WASHINGTON, D.C. – It was a battle of wits, Save Jerseyans, and Spartacus was unarmed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio forcefully challenged Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) during a tense Senate hearing Tuesday, rejecting claims that U.S. policy has strengthened Iran financially and arguing instead that the regime is suffering severe economic and military setbacks.
The clash centered on Iran’s oil revenue and the impact of recent U.S. actions in the region. Booker argued that Iran continues to profit from oil sales, claiming the regime has received tens of billions of dollars while instability in the region has disrupted international shipping and energy markets.
“We’re allowing Iran to sell oil,” Booker said, asserting that Tehran had generated between $10 billion and $50 billion in revenue.
Rubio immediately disputed the figure, saying Iran had not received $50 billion and emphasizing that the country’s financial position has deteriorated dramatically. According to Rubio, Iran is now losing hundreds of millions of dollars per day as a result of pressure on its economy and energy exports.
Booker maintained that Iran continues to receive revenue, particularly from China, and accused the administration of pursuing negotiations similar to the Obama-era nuclear agreement that Rubio previously criticized.
Rubio dismissed the comparison, arguing that Iran’s leadership had already intended to pursue its current course regardless of U.S. policy. He also rejected Booker’s assertion that the United States was seeking concessions from Tehran.
“There’s no begging. No one’s begging,” Rubio said. “The Iranians might be begging because they’re losing hundreds of millions per day.”
The secretary painted a bleak picture of Iran’s current condition, arguing that the regime is substantially weaker than it was in previous years. Rubio pointed to what he described as the degradation of Iran’s military capabilities, including damage to its naval assets, missile-launching infrastructure, and industrial base.
“I don’t know where you’re getting this perception Iran is stronger,” Rubio told Booker.
Rubio further argued that Iran faces enormous economic challenges ahead, including what he described as hundreds of billions of dollars in potential reconstruction costs. He maintained that the regime’s economy is significantly worse off today than before recent confrontations.
The exchange highlighted the sharp divide between Democrats and Republicans over U.S. policy toward Iran, with Rubio portraying the regime as increasingly isolated and weakened, while Booker warned that current policies could ultimately provide Tehran with new sources of revenue and leverage.
.@SecRubio shuts down @SenBooker: “No one’s ‘begging’ for anything here. The Iranians might be begging — because their economy is losing hundreds of millions of dollars a day.”
“I don’t know where you’re getting this perception that Iran is stronger. Iran has no navy left.… pic.twitter.com/XHVerZeo8D
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 2, 2026
