Secretary of State says U.S. acted preemptively after learning of Israeli attack plans, drawing criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum who question Trump's "America First" agenda.

The United States attacked Iran only after learning that ally Israel was going to strike and fearing Tehran would retaliate against US forces, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday."This is

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump attacked Iran over the weekend because he knew Israel was going to launch a military strike and worried about retaliation against American bases from Tehran.

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on Tuesday called Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s explanation that the U.S. carried out a preemptive attack on Iran because Israel struck first “breathtaking” during a Senate hearing with a top official from the Pentagon.

The Trump administration and its allies in Congress are presenting a shifting new justification for the U.S. attack on Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on Monday “due to current circumstances,” according to Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs. The State Department announced the trip Friday,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to visit Israel early next week for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State Department confirmed Friday. Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs,

The United States has been pressuring Iran to curb its nuclear program, but talks between the two countries have not led to a breakthrough so far.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel next week, amid a US military buildup in the region designed to pressure Iran over ongoing nuclear talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel next week, where he will discuss Iran, the State Department said in a statement on Friday, as the U.S. has assembled a large military force in the region amid rising tensions with Tehran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters Monday about the ongoing strikes against Iran. See his remarks.