Rubio counts destruction of Iran air force as war aim, differing from lists presented by other US officials

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio lists what he says are the goals of the war with Iran, knocking those who say that the administration has not been clear about them but departing from a list previously laid out by the White House.

Rubio tells ABC’s Good Morning America that the goals are destroying Iran’s navy, destroying its air force, severely diminishing Iran’s missile launching capabilities and destroying Iran’s missile and drone production factories.

While Rubio did include the destruction of Iran’s air force in the list of war aims he provided last week, that objective has not typically been mentioned by other US officials, given that Iran’s air force has never posed a significant threat.

Moreover, other top US officials have included the prevention of Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon and ceasing Iran’s support for regional proxies in the administration’s list of war aims.

In talking points sent to Republican lawmakers earlier this month, the White House listed those latter two goals along with the destruction of Iran’s navy and missile programs.

No mention was made of Iran’s air force.