U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran, saying Sunday that the choice was necessary even though it was not “necessarily popular.” His comments came after Republicans’ midterm losses and a public debate over the conflict’s political cost.

Rubio made the remarks to reporters in Florida before traveling to Paris for a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting. Asked about Vice President JD Vance’s comments linking the war to the election result, Rubio said Trump had identified a serious threat and acted to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, according to the Associated Press. That is the administration’s stated rationale; Iran has long said its nuclear program is peaceful.

Rubio’s latest comments follow an earlier exchange

Reuters reported earlier Sunday that Vance had blamed the war for Republican losses, while Rubio declined to comment directly on whether the conflict contributed to the result. Rubio’s later defense marks a clearer public argument for the decision, although it does not resolve the political debate over the war or its economic effects.

The AP report said the conflict and higher energy costs had become vulnerabilities for Republicans. Rubio, meanwhile, said negotiations with Iran were not close to a breakthrough. The distinction matters: his remarks explain the administration’s case for continuing its course, while leaving open how leaders will address voter concerns and pursue diplomacy.

Rubio is traveling to the G7 meeting in Paris, where Iran, Ukraine and energy are among the issues on the agenda. Globuzz previously reported on Rubio’s planned G7 meetings in Paris.

Sources: Associated Press: Rubio says Trump’s Iran war was necessary despite its unpopularity; Reuters: Iran, war and midterm election developments.