Secretary of State Marco Rubio: The U.S. is 'not involved' in strikes against Iran

Geopolitical Situation in the Middle East - The White House initially emphasized the US was not involved in the attacks and was not providing assistance [1] - Secretary of State Rubio stated Israel took unilateral action against Iran, and the US was not involved in the strikes, prioritizing the protection of American forces in the region [2] - Israel informed the US that the action was necessary for its self-defense [2] - Iran's foreign minister claimed Israel's actions could not have happened without US coordination and approval, holding the US government responsible for the consequences [5] - The US began voluntary departures for non-essential staff and families from the region earlier in the week [5] US Response and Stance - The US national security team monitored the strikes in real time [6] - The US is prepared to send more military help to defend Israel [7] - The US maintains it was not involved in the initial attacks but will help with ongoing defense [8][9] - The US stands by Israel and its right to defend itself [10] Potential Impact on Negotiations - The attacks represent a significant break from the administration's negotiations for a nuclear deal with Iran [4] - A new round of meetings was scheduled for Saturday [4]