What we're covering
• Trump Iran threat: President Donald Trump warned an “armada” is heading toward Iran and threatened possible military action against the regime. It comes as US forces will conduct a multi-day air exercise in the Middle East. Iran says mediation efforts between Tehran and the US are ongoing, according to state-affiliated news agency Tasnim.
• Rubio testifies: Secretary of State Marco Rubio will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in his first appearance at an open session since the US ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• Trump speech: We’ll hear from Trump this morning as he is slated to deliver remarks on his “Trump Accounts” program in Washington, DC.
Rubio scheduled to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader today
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Wednesday afternoon, according to his public schedule.
Their meeting at the State Department comes after a larger meeting with President Donald Trump less than two weeks ago and as the US administration continues to work with the Venezuelan interim government that previously served Nicolas Maduro.
Their meeting also comes after Rubio testifies publicly for the first time since the military operation that deposed the Venezuelan leader.
Rubio has known Machado for years and spoken highly of her – he even nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize while he was a senator. However, the top US diplomat has recently shied away from publicly endorsing her as Venezuela’s future leader
Rubio: US prepared to use force if Venezuelan interim government resists cooperation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to threaten the use of force “to ensure maximum cooperation” from the Venezuelan interim authorities when he testifies publicly for the first time since the military operation to capture and depose Nicolás Maduro was carried out in early January.
“We will closely monitor the performance of the interim authorities as they cooperate with our stage-based plan to restore stability to Venezuela. Make no mistake, as the President has stated, we are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail,” Rubio will say, according to his prepared remarks for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.
Rubio’s testimony comes amid continued scrutiny of the military operation and the administration’s broader plans for Venezuela.
“(Delcy) Rodríguez is well aware of the fate of Maduro; it is our belief that her own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives,” Rubio intends to say.
He will once again assert in his testimony that the activity was not an act of war, but rather “an operation to aid law enforcement.” The Trump administration has used this argument as part of its justification for why it did not obtain congressional approval before the operation.
“There is no war against Venezuela, and we did not occupy a country. There are no US troops on the ground,” according to Rubio’s prepared remarks.
Not only did the administration not get congressional approval, it also did not give advance notice to key lawmakers about the military action, angering Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill. However, efforts to constrain the president’s power through a war powers resolution narrowly failed in both the Senate and the House.
Trump urges Iran to negotiate nuclear deal, adding "next attack will be far worse"
President Donald Trump took to social media to threaten Iran this morning, urging the country to negotiate an “equitable” nuclear deal or face another potential US military strike.
It comes as US forces are set to conduct a multi-day air exercise in the Middle East and Washington bolsters its military presence in the region amid tensions with Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has also moved closer to the region, with the president mentioning that in his post.
“A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
As CNN reported Tuesday, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is now in the Indian Ocean. While it’s closer to assist in any potential operation targeting Iran, it’s not necessarily in a final position.
The US president has previously threatened military action against the regime, which has launched a brutal crackdown on against a wave of anti-government protests.
