US Secretary of State say Iran is in ‘a lot of trouble’

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio used remarks at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila to argue that Iran is under severe pressure. In the video item published on July 22, 2026, Rubio said Iran was in “a lot of trouble,” pointing to what he described as hyperinflation, higher food prices and major harm to the country’s military infrastructure.

The report identifies the setting as an ASEAN gathering in the Philippine capital, where Washington’s top diplomat was speaking to an audience focused primarily on regional diplomacy. Al Jazeera’s brief item does not provide Rubio’s full remarks, specify the source of the US assessment, or include an immediate response from Iranian officials.

The comments matter because they signal how the United States is publicly characterizing Iran’s position at a time of continuing concern over Tehran’s regional role, military capacity and domestic economic conditions. Claims about inflation, food costs and damaged military assets can shape diplomatic messaging, sanctions debates and perceptions of leverage in any future negotiations.

As background beyond the limited Al Jazeera text, Iran has faced years of economic strain linked in part to international sanctions, currency pressures and internal governance challenges, while its military and allied networks remain central issues in US and regional security policy. The specific conditions cited by Rubio in Manila, however, are presented here only as reported by Al Jazeera from his remarks.