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State Dept. Issues Readout of Secretary Rubio Meeting With Cambodian Deputy P.M. Prak
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Secretary Marco Rubio's meeting on July 23, 2026, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila:
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila to discuss U.S.-Cambodia cooperation, both bilaterally and through ASEAN.
Secretary Rubio thanked Deputy Prime Minister Prak for Cambodia's role as the United States' ASEAN Country Coordinator.
Secretary Rubio and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Secretary Marco Rubio's meeting on July 23, 2026, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila to discuss U.S.-Cambodia cooperation, both bilaterally and through ASEAN. Secretary Rubio thanked Deputy Prime Minister Prak for Cambodia's role as the United States' ASEAN Country Coordinator. Secretary Rubio andDeputy Prime Minister Prak reaffirmed a shared commitment to implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and deepening law enforcement cooperation, including on scam centers, to protect Americans and Cambodians.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-cambodian-deputy-prime-minister-and-foreign-minister-prak/
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila to discuss U.S.-Cambodia cooperation, both bilaterally and through ASEAN.
Secretary Rubio thanked Deputy Prime Minister Prak for Cambodia's role as the United States' ASEAN Country Coordinator.
Secretary Rubio and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Secretary Marco Rubio's meeting on July 23, 2026, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in Manila to discuss U.S.-Cambodia cooperation, both bilaterally and through ASEAN. Secretary Rubio thanked Deputy Prime Minister Prak for Cambodia's role as the United States' ASEAN Country Coordinator. Secretary Rubio andDeputy Prime Minister Prak reaffirmed a shared commitment to implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and deepening law enforcement cooperation, including on scam centers, to protect Americans and Cambodians.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-cambodian-deputy-prime-minister-and-foreign-minister-prak/
Secretary of State Rubio Addresses Global Flashpoints in Manila, Covering Ukraine Peace Efforts, Iran Strategy, Philippine Ties
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following transcript of a news conference by Secretary Marco Rubio at the Philippine International Convention Center highlighting U.S. willingness to broker a peace deal in Ukraine while fielding questions on escalating strikes against Iran and reaffirming defense ties with regional allies in the Indo-Pacific:
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press
SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, what's up?
QUESTION: Have you made any progress on Ukraine today? Is Russia serious about peace this time?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, you ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following transcript of a news conference by Secretary Marco Rubio at the Philippine International Convention Center highlighting U.S. willingness to broker a peace deal in Ukraine while fielding questions on escalating strikes against Iran and reaffirming defense ties with regional allies in the Indo-Pacific: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, what's up? QUESTION: Have you made any progress on Ukraine today? Is Russia serious about peace this time? SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, youthink we settled the war in Ukraine in our 30 minutes here in Asia? That's not the way it works. Look, we had a good conversation, a frank conversation. I'm not going to tell you what we talked about, because these - diplomacy doesn't work well when you run to the microphones afterwards. Suffice it to say - I'll tell you what I told you yesterday. The United States, the President's been clear that we want - if we can, we are prepared to play a constructive role in bringing about an end to a senseless war. And we're ready to do that, and we of course expressed that, and we've expressed it in other meetings. So we talked about other things as well.
QUESTION: Did you talk to him about Russia sharing information with Iran targeting U.S. troops?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, who says that they are?
QUESTION: Are they not?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Who says they are?
QUESTION: Hegseth acknowledged that Russia was enabling in some ways, both Russia and China.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, but that's a different question from what you just asked me. Who said that they were - they're doing that?
QUESTION: There's been reporting that there's - are you --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Reporting in the media?
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, then it must be true.
QUESTION: So is it not true?
SECRETARY RUBIO: If it's in the media, it's a leaker. I'm not going to - let me say - let's imagine that were true. I certainly wouldn't discuss it in the press. I've already told you guys yesterday something and I was very clear about it. Nothing that Iran is doing - nothing that anyone's doing to help Iran is in any way increasing their ability to target Americans.
What you need to all understand - because we've explained this repeatedly - is Iran has spent the better part of 20 years not just sponsoring terrorism but building long-range rockets, short-range missiles, and drones. And they were intending to build them a lot more. They were intending to double their stockpile. The stuff you're seeing them use now, they were going to double that. And they were going to use that and hide behind that to say, we're untouchable, we can now do a nuclear weapon, and you guys can't touch us or we'll overwhelm your air defenses, which is why the President had to address this threat.
And he did, and he should have. Another President should have done it earlier. The world will be a safer place because we addressed it. Unfortunately, in the short term it creates disruptions, but you know what's really disruptive? A nuclear weapon in the hands of these radicals.
QUESTION: In Ukraine, do you sense that the momentum is shifting a little bit in the conflict? And if so, does that manifest itself in these diplomatic discussions?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think it's a bloody war. I think it's a very bloody war. I think Russia is now suffering strikes deep in their territory. That's something you didn't see. At the end of the year, the winter's still going to hit Ukraine, and they're obviously going to have to defend their airspace. People suffering every day, the - I think it's the only conflict - I've been told it's the only conflict that anyone in the military can recall where the killed-in-action rate is higher than the casualty rate. That's how bloody it is. The Russians, I believe, are losing upwards of five to six thousand soldiers a week. That's a staggering number.
QUESTION: Can you feel that with Lavrov? Does Lavrov sort of express that or acknowledge that in any --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, guys, I mean, when I have these talks, these things don't work well unless I come out here and characterize what the other side is saying. Suffice it to say that I think it's obvious to everyone that this war is very bloody. And look, Ukraine's paid a tremendous price as well. I mean, we've seen civilian deaths, strikes in Kyiv. We've seen some of that increase. Certainly, I mean, this war has not been good for Ukraine either.
So I think both sides should have an incentive to bring it to an end. That's been the challenge is an end that both sides can accept. And we've tried and we'll continue to try to see if we can find a middle ground that brings this about, and we're prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself. We expressed that today and we've expressed it in the past.
QUESTION: China today --
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Russian --
QUESTION: China today launched --
QUESTION: The Russian --
QUESTION: -- live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- and apparently used water cannon on Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, those are two separate instances, but yeah --
QUESTION: Two separate instances right as your Chinese (inaudible) --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, I mean, on the - well, look, I mean, they know where we feel about those issues. Obviously, we publicly expressed ourselves on the missile launch. It's a destabilizing event. And what's happened with the Philippines, obviously we saw that, too. The whole world saw it, and it's disturbing. And these challenges and these claims of sovereignty over territory are a growing challenge. It's why we continue to reiterate our commitment to our treaty partners but also our commitment to freedom of navigation and respect for territorial rights in the region. And it's one of the cornerstones of our engagement in the Indo-Pacific and especially via ASEAN, and I made that point in every forum that we've had here.
QUESTION: Sir, President Trump, he said on Truth Social that the U.S. is going to bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant every time that Iran targets a ship in the strait. Is he talking about civilian infrastructure there? And do you think that is an effective strategy?
SECRETARY RUBIO: He's - this is what he's talking about. Iran is begging us, okay, both directly and indirectly, let's do a deal, let's talk, let's talk. Iran is begging every day. The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal, the people that are in charge there, they either break it or they want to change it. So it looks like they're not ready to make a deal, so they're going to continue to pay a price. And they're - every night the price gets higher and higher and higher. And that's what's happening now. And until - maybe in a few days, they'll be ready to make a deal once they realize that this is not a winning proposition for them.
And that's what the President is outlining, the idea that this is going to continue. It's not going to continue this way - the price will continue to get higher every single night until they come to their senses. Right now, apparently they haven't come to their senses, and so the President doesn't see a lot of utility in responding to their overtures at this point because, frankly, Iran is clearly not ready to make a deal, at least not one they're willing to live by.
QUESTION: But is he talking about civilian infrastructure, bridges?
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, yesterday you were saying - you were hoping to - that there would be de-escalation in the Red Sea, and the Houthis now attacked two - two Saudi ships. What is your reaction to that?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, I hope that they'll stop. They shouldn't really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians. The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships.
And by the way, that's - I was reading reports a few hours ago that there was actually a Saudi fuel ship that's flagged Chinese. It's A Chinese ship. Are they going to blow up the Chinese ship? And this becomes a problem for China, this will become a problem for the whole world. But I hope that will de-escalate, because I think the Houthis frankly got snookered into this thing by the Iranians. And they were smart to stay out of it and they should stay out of it and they should stop. We'll see what happens there. Obviously, it's not a positive development. We'll see what happens.
QUESTION: Secretary, what prompted the easing of --
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm sorry, man. I love the real court reporter thing. It's cool. Why don't the rest of you guys have this? This guy's the smartest guy here.
QUESTION: He's a trendsetter. We're catching up to him.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I know, he is. You better catch up. All right, go ahead. I'm sorry.
QUESTION: Yes, what prompted the easing of sanctions on Hong Kong last week in terms of letting the executive order expire on lifting sanctions --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah - no, it wasn't easing of sanctions. The executive order expired. The conditions underlying some of those elements no longer existed. But there remain other individuals that remain sanctioned nonetheless, despite - the executive order is a partial expiration on certain individuals, but not on others. It just depends on the light of it. And the justification and rationale behind that original executive order had sort of - the circumstances had changed in the President's judgment.
But there are individuals - there's still a significant number of individuals in Hong Kong that remain sanctioned that were not covered by the executive order. And that remains in place and, obviously, that was raised with us yesterday, but we don't see a change anytime in the near future on that.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Russian readout of your meeting also once again mentions Anchorage proposals. Can you describe what those proposals are and how relevant are they today?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, there was no - I mean, proposals, we know they've been reported - they call it 3+2, they're (inaudible), but those failed. The - you can't have a peace deal unless both sides agree to it, and the Ukrainians would not agree to it, and so that's why that effort didn't work. So we'll have to find new suggestions and new ideas, because certainly that one, it was not acceptable in Ukraine at the time, and I don't think it's acceptable to them now either. In fact, it's probably less acceptable to them.
So if - when peace comes, it'll be because of some new idea and some new concepts, and we're prepared to offer some of those in the right setting and forum. If the opportunity presents itself and the conditions are right, we're prepared to play that role in a positive way.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: Will the President - will the President meet with --
QUESTION: Is the U.S. looking to step up its strategy to assisting Manila in terms of putting more strategy in terms of the (inaudible), in terms of freedom of navigation operations, will you be conducting more of that soon in the --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, look, we're a treaty ally. I mean, the United States and the Philippines have a treaty, and so we will live by that treaty. We're committed to supporting our treaty partners, and obviously we've already done quite a bit. In fact, there was a U.S. Coast Guard vessel in the region at the time that this happened and actually helped stand between the two sides and allowed the individual who was injured to be rescued and brought back for medical treatment. So we're already here, we're already present, we have a role, and we're not going to abandon our allies. We've made that abundantly clear.
We're going to have a - a relationship with China. Okay? These are the two most powerful economies in the world, two large militaries, two nuclear powers. We have to have a relationship with China and we want it to be as positive as it possibly can be. But that won't come at the expense of our allies and our partners in the region or our presence here either.
QUESTION: Sir, it's been a day since we asked you about the Saudi nuclear agreement.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: Have you had chance to look further on that?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, let me - no, but let refer - I know that was in the press the last few days --
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- but let me refer you back - I think it was in November of last year --
QUESTION: Right.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- when the Energy Department entered into this agreement, so the details are there. Obviously, even when the official announcement is made, it will have to go through a congressional notification process, and then we can talk more in depth about it. But suffice it to say that the U.S. is always looking for cooperation agreements with allies. I mean, Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of the United States.
And I think, without speaking in specificity about that deal, but in general, we're not the only country in the world that offers nuclear technology. And when countries decide that they want to pursue a peaceful civil nuclear program, we'd prefer them do it with us than do it with some other country. It allows us to have influence over the direction that it goes. It allows us to make sure that there are safeguards in place, things of this nature.
And in the case of Saudi Arabia, they've been an important strategic partner for us, so it would make sense for us to enter into such an agreement. But obviously the details of it, once it's released, you'll see it, you'll be able to understand it, and more importantly, it'll go through its congressional review process, which is a key part of this. And so there'll be a lot more questions answered at that time.
QUESTION: Would you be comfortable with Saudi Arabia enriching and reprocessing uranium?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'll let the agreement speak for itself. Suffice it to say that any agreement that we're going to make with any country in the world on civil nuclear energy is going to be one that will have safeguards in place to ensure that it can't be turned into a weapons program. And one of the best safeguards is to make sure that American technology and American companies are the ones that are involved in doing it. If, on the other hand, a country pursues nuclear technology with another country, well then we don't really control those safeguards.
So again, Saudi Arabia is - seeks to have a peaceful, civil nuclear program. Other countries do as well. We have a similar agreement in place now with the UAE, and U.S. companies are the world standard in providing that. And so we are always looking for opportunities, by the way, not just in conventional reactors but in small modular reactors, which is an area that we are increasingly around signing MOUs all over the world to help do as well.
To countries that are exploring civil, peaceful nuclear energy, the United States wants to be their partner of choice, and we're always looking for opportunities to be able to make sure that our technology and our companies are the ones that are providing that.
Does anybody over here have questions, because this side is - really lopsided.
QUESTION: Yes. Will the U.S. --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Go ahead.
QUESTION: Will the U.S. put sanctions on China's Moonshot AI for apparently distilling U.S. technology?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I don't have any announcement on that today.
QUESTION: Shouldn't the Saudis agree to the additional protocol? It's sort of the gold standard. And if the administration is trying to stand up to say that nonproliferation is a problem in the Middle East, shouldn't that be the --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Any agreement that we would make on civil and nuclear energy with Saudi Arabia or any other country is going to have safeguards in place to ensure that those cannot ever be turned into a weapons program. I mean, that's the gold standard. And obviously, we live in a new era. There are competitors that we face, so we'll have to adjust individual deals to that reality. We're not the only show in town but we're the best show in town. But we want to be - we want to make sure that it's our companies they're picking.
So again, we understand any deal we enter into with any country will have to go through a congressional review process. And so we will ensure that, in order to get congressional approval, we're going to need to have those safeguards in place. Whether they're structured differently, how they --
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- (inaudible) deals in the past or not will depend on the individual deal.
QUESTION: On Cuba policy, you've said in recent --
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm in Asia and you're asking me about Cuba. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Right. But you said yesterday you're the main guy in Cuba policy, so we should ask you.
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I said I'm most - you guys were - someone asked me a question about people that are involved in Cuba policy --
QUESTION: Right.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- so no one's more involved in it than me, so go ahead.
QUESTION: Yeah, so - so this is a good question for you. So you said in recent months that the economic system can't improve unless there's a change in the political system. But you - you've been very vague about what that change in the political system would entail. Can you give us some more details? Would the Communist Party stay in power but have different leadership? Would the Castros still be in power? Would --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You want me to give you details on our plan?
QUESTION: Yeah, just --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, not today. No, I'm not going to do that.
QUESTION: But what do you mean when you say there needs to be political change --
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, here's what I told you, and this is the truth. The people who are in charge of the country don't know what they're doing. They don't know. They don't know how to fix their economy. They don't know - they don't understand basic concepts. And I think the challenge that Cuba has faced for the last 15 years is they want to somewhat improve their economy, but they're afraid that if they improve it too much they'll lose political control over people. That's the challenge that they face.
QUESTION: Secretary --
SECRETARY RUBIO: So I think for us, we are looking for an opportunity to influence the direction that that goes, because it's 90 miles from our shores. And we want Cuba to be prosperous; we want Cuba to be free. But in that sense, on the level of detail you're asking me, suffice it to say that as long as the people that are in charge think the way these people think and act the way these people act, it's going to be difficult for them to make the changes that need to be made in order for Cuba to have a better future.
Because they just really - they either - they don't understand. Some of them are incompetent and some of them just basically don't understand, and others are just so recalcitrant that they'd rather destroy the country than ever walk away from a failed ideology, although I think the number of people in that category is less than it's ever been. But for the most part, it's just people that don't know what an economy is supposed to look like. They really don't, because they've always relied on foreign sponsors. That regime has survived on subsidies from the Soviet Union and then from Chavez. This is the first time they don't have a sponsor that's giving them subsidies for free, and they don't know what to do with themselves, because all they've done is freeload off these countries for all these years. The people of Cuba deserve better than that.
QUESTION: On Venezuela --
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the appropriate defense spending for allies like Japan and the Philippines?
SECRETARY RUBIO: What is my opinion on --
QUESTION: Defense spending - appropriate defense spending.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we've communicated that to them. But look, at the end of the day, I still think that these are partners and allies, but we want countries to assume more responsibility for their own security. And for the most part, I think the countries in this region agree. And so the U.S. will continue to do its part, but by the same token, we're now, in many cases, dealing with advanced and wealthy economies who have the ability to spend more on their own defense, and they should. I think the primary responsibility of any government is the national security of their country. So - but I wouldn't - I don't think it's a point of conflict between us and the regime.
QUESTION: On Venezuela --
QUESTION: Secretary, back on my other question --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes.
QUESTION: Secretary, on South China Sea, are you looking to at least step up this support that you've mentioned, especially (inaudible) U.S.-commissioned (inaudible)?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, again, we have a treaty agreement with the Philippines that we intend to keep, we have a treaty agreement that we intend to live by, and we have had a long-standing defense partnership. We don't view that as a hostile act towards anybody. We view it as keeping our commitments to long-term allies with whom we have many shared values, shared history, and, we hope, a shared future.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --
QUESTION: On Venezuela, you said that next month, I think, they're going to start this transition task.
SECRETARY RUBIO: First week of August, yeah.
QUESTION: Yeah, between the interim government and --
SECRETARY RUBIO: The 2015 Assembly.
QUESTION: -- and the 2015 Assembly. Is there going to be a direct role for Maria Corina Machado and her opposition movement that won the last election?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's up to the Venezuelans to decide. I'm sure she can play a role if they allow her - if they want her to. The 2015 National Assembly is the government that we recognized up - that's the government we had recognized up until these changes when we have these interim authorities, but we think it's a really good development.
In the end, I would say that in order for Venezuela to have the reconciliation that that country requires to move forward on all these other projects, every element of Venezuelan society needs to be represented. And obviously, Maria Corina represents an important element of that. I mean, she's got supporters there and people that are supportive of her. And there are others as well.
But a reconciliation process, we are there to facilitate it, not to dictate it, and we will certainly provide guidance and support in the direction that it moves forward. We think it's important for the country to do that, and there's a lot to work on. I mean, if you think about in a country like that that's been under a regime now for 20 to 25 years, political parties have to transition from being street protest movements to electoral forces.
You have to have a free and open press so you can communicate it. You have to have an electoral council that'll actually accurately count the votes. You have to have enough security in the streets to ensure that the ballot box is safe and people aren't being intimidated. There's a lot that goes into an election, then creating the infrastructure for an election. That really was not invested in for a very long time and, in some cases, they were hostile towards.
So there's a lot of change to happen, but what it requires is patience, persistence. We have to stay on top of it, because these transitions do take some time. They don't need to take a decade, or even five or seven years, but they take more than a few weeks, especially when you're dealing with something that's been in place for 25 years, unfortunately.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, there's some prominent Republicans who have said they want you to take over the Iran negotiations. They trust you. They think that you will prioritize Israel's interests. And they're attacking Vice President Vance.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Who are these prominent Republicans?
QUESTION: Well, Senator Sheehy, The Wall Street Journal opinion page. There's people --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's not a Republican; that's a newspaper.
QUESTION: Well, they --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You're a troublemaker with these questions. No --
QUESTION: I think you know it leans - it leans right of center. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, look, guys, listen, here's the bottom - here's - you know who the lead negotiator is? His name is Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States. That's who dictates our policy. He has a team of people that work together on this. We all have a role to play, depending on what the topic is. We have very good negotiators in Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. We have the Vice President of the United States, which is the second highest-ranking official, which tells you how - the importance we've given in this file. Obviously I have a role to play; the Department of War has had a role to play. That's how we approach it. This doesn't - I mean, it's a combined effort, and it always should be.
QUESTION: Do you wish people didn't endorse you to take over the talks yourself?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, you're telling me about that, but that's not how our system works; that's not how this administration works. It starts at the top. The President is in charge, and he has a team of people that provide counsel, provide advice, but ultimately whose job it is to execute on the President's directive. We have a great team that works very well together on that topic, we - to work well together on a number of topics. We've worked together as a team on Lebanon; we've worked together as a team on Venezuela. We've worked together as a team on the Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement that was put together. We've worked together as a team - we have a really good core team that works on foreign policy and national security.
And oftentimes it's a multi-agency effort, because there's a role for Treasury to play, sometimes there's a role for Energy to play. That's how these things work. It's not one person. It's all these different elements of our government that have to work in conjunction and in concert to execute on the President's directive and on the direction that he's giving us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I --
QUESTION: Secretary, you've argued that the ICC threatens --
QUESTION: Graham did call him the architect of the deal.
QUESTION: Secretary, you've argued that the ICC threatens the sovereignty of the United States and its allies. How do you reconcile that position with the need for an international mechanism for - to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, here's how I reconcile it. We're not members of the ICC. We never signed that treaty; we never joined it. And they somehow claim that they have a right nonetheless to go after non-treaty members and put heads of state and others in jail. We've long had quarrels with them, and we have lunatics and crazies involved in the ICC that are talking about charging members of the U.S. military, maybe even the President or a future president, with crimes. And it's not going to happen; it's just not going to happen.
We are not members of that court; we never signed on to that treaty. They need to understand that. If people want to sign and be a part of that stupid organization, they can. But we're not going to be a part of it, and they're not going to apply their jurisdiction to Americans. That's just not going to happen. We're not going to tolerate it now or in the future, and we've warned them about it repeatedly. And now they're going to see the consequences of ignoring us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I come back to Ukraine, please?
QUESTION: (Inaudible) administration rule out striking civilian infrastructure?
SECRETARY RUBIO: You want to go back to Ukraine? Oh, that's a question. Yeah.
QUESTION: As a - yeah - and your meeting with Mr. Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Mr. Lavrov told you or asked you or said to you that the U.S. needs to stop arming Ukraine. What was your reaction? And - there's a statement. They said that, that Mr. Lavrov --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I - I mean, I don't know what those statements - I know what happened in our meeting. At the end of the day --
QUESTION: Yeah, but what did you say?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, first of all, the U.S. position on it is we don't - we sell arms.
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: We sell arms via PURL, which is an initiative we have through NATO. And that's what we're involved in. There's been no change to our policy in that regard. But we want a peace deal; we want the war to end. We're prepared to play whatever positive role we can to end the war. And that - in order to end this war will require something that both Russia and Ukraine can agree to. That's not going to happen at a press conference. That's not going to happen at one meeting here in the Philippines. That's going to require a lot of work.
We've invested in the past in it. It was unsuccessful or at least unfruitful at the time. If conditions and factors have changed to make that possible, we're ready to go. The President's committed to that. And every single day - if we identify an opportunity to make a difference in that, we will. Because in the end, what the President most cares about is not the stuff people are - well, here's what he most cares about: that people stop dying, that people stop being slaughtered, that Ukraine no - can go on and live in peace and Ukrainians can move back to their country and rebuild it, that young Russians aren't being killed at the tune of 5,000 a week in the battlefield.
He thinks it's a stupid war; he thinks it's a senseless war. And if we can play a role in bringing it to an end, we're going to use the power and influence of the United States to do so. And we're prepared to do that as the opportunity presents itself, and I hope it has and I hope it does. And that's what we've communicated consistently to both sides, by the way.
QUESTION: On that line, Mr. Secretary, you said that you are open for new ideas. Now that you've met with Lavrov, are you and the President prepared to sit down with your counterparts - Ukrainian counterparts - if they visit Washington next week for the funeral?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well - well, I don't know if they're coming next week or not. I think President Zelenskyy had expressed an interest in coming. We've met - I mean, we just saw - we'll meet with them. We've met with them often; we talk to them often. In fact, we saw them two weeks ago in Turkiye. I would argue we've probably met with the Ukrainians far more times than we've met with the Russian side, and I'm sure we'll meet again in the future, whenever that is. We're always open to meeting with them.
QUESTION: Did you --
QUESTION: On Trump's statement about the bridges and the power plants, just want some clarification. Do you rule out striking civilian infrastructure?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think --
QUESTION: Because he's talking about that.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Guys, I saw Araghchi, their foreign minister, who the other day say - or something about their policy is an eye for an eye. The President's policy is a head for an eye. I mean, honestly, that's what it's going to be. I mean, they will pay a very heavy price for the things they're doing. They're already paying a very heavy price. You guys don't know it because you don't cover it. You're not in Iran; you're not in the street. They don't have a free media. But they're going to continue to pay a very heavy price.
Their industrial base has been decimated. Their defense industrial base has been decimated. They're losing launchers; they're losing radars every single night. They are suffering billions of dollars in damage, and their economy is a disaster. But despite all that, okay, these people who are calling us every day begging, let's do a deal, they send us messages through other countries, third countries. I mean, they're running out of countries to send - even I had countries here coming up to me, oh, I just spoke to the Iranians, they want to do a deal. The problem is, every time these people do a deal, they either break it or, after they make it, they want to change the deal.
So they're probably not ready to do a deal yet, but they will be soon because the price they're paying is very high despite their tough talk and their flowery language and their stupid Lego videos they put out - I've never seen them but they put these things out on social media. Despite all that bravado, they are suffering tremendously, and they're going to suffer more until they come to their senses. They're not there yet, unfortunately.
QUESTION: Which countries came to you?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, I can't tell you who told me that.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: There's 11 here.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, I'd be betraying their confidences. There's some of them that are here, yeah, and every day I get a text or a call or a Signal message from a foreign minister: oh, so-and-so called me, the Iranians want to talk. The Iranians want to talk, but the problem with these guys, in addition to the fact that they're probably fighting with each other, is they make a deal, they agree to something, and then they decide, oh, let's change it after they made it, or they agree - or they decide, oh, I know we made a deal, but we're going to violate it. I mean, these people unfortunately just - they aren't ready for a deal. I think they'll be ready soon, though.
QUESTION: Do you think there's going to be a big escalation by the United States in the coming days?
SECRETARY RUBIO: That's the President's decision to make. They're going to pay a price. They're already paying a price every single night. I mean, you can't do the stuff they're doing for free. They're going to pay a price.
QUESTION: On Russia and Ukraine, did you talk with Wang Yi about any influence that China might be able to exercise to help bring that war to an end?
SECRETARY RUBIO: We didn't discuss in our meeting, no. We didn't discuss Russia and Ukraine. We had a lot of other stuff to talk about.
QUESTION: Secretary, did you discuss with Wang Yi the issue of technology and whether that will be on the agenda for the September leaders' meeting.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's a broad topic. Technology like what?
QUESTION: AI - AI disputes.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, AI. Yeah, look, I think that they've expressed - they'd like to see some global governance about what AI is governed by. Obviously, we're - I'm not sure we're aligned on that point yet, but that topic has come up. I think they've expressed an interest in discussing what the rules are going to be for how AI is used in the future, and I think that's going to have to be an international conversation. So we have some ideas about what that should look like and what those standards should be, and maybe they're different from theirs, but we didn't go into great depth on that topic. But it's an issue - it came up in Beijing as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, just final point on Iran, this - what is Iran's offramp? Is diplomacy running out of time?
SECRETARY RUBIO: With Iran?
QUESTION: Mm-hmm.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I just don't think they're serious about making a deal. These guys, I mean, the more the President's gotten to know them, the more he's come to that realization. I mean, he said it yesterday, I believe. He gave a speech in Georgia. These guys, the problem with them is you can't make a deal with people unless they're going to keep it, and these people make deals and then they break it almost immediately, or they decide, oh, let's change the deal. That's not how deals work. I mean, they violated the MOU within days of it being implemented. We kept our end of it. So now they're paying the price for it. And maybe they'll change their mind here over the next few days as they continue to suffer great losses.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you know the Senate better than most anybody. They're debating the new military policy bill right now after the House passed it. One of the more controversial topics is about fusing the U.S. and Israeli military when it comes to co-production on things. Do you have any sovereignty concerns about that, if there are situations where the United States wants to send weapons? Iron Dome came up with Ukraine when the Israelis --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You're asking about NDAA? Yeah, I mean, that - largely the Department of War manages that legislative portfolio, so I'm aware of the provision you're discussing that involves cooperation on technology. And look, at the end of the day, the truth is we do that with countries all over the world.
QUESTION: So you support it?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, if somebody - well, I haven't read the specific provision in terms to tell you in detail. I understand - I understand the topic, though, because it's not new. On air defense, for example, we've long cooperated with the Israelis. Look, if we have a breakthrough in our system or they have a breakthrough in theirs, we could share that in a way to improve our own systems as well. So if they've come up with some novel way of defeating drones, for example, of course we would want to have that and benefit from it. By the way, they're not the only country in the world that we would do that with. We do that with other countries as well.
So I think that's the provision you're referring to, and that's something we're already doing. I mean, that's something that already exists. But I don't think there's - that's different from sovereignty. I mean, it's not like U.S. forces are going to come under the command and control of a foreign general or anything of that nature.
QUESTION: But when Ukraine was asking for Iron Dome, the United States and some lawmakers, including Lindsey Graham, wanted the U.S. to send Iron Dome battery that was in the East Coast. Netanyahu vetoed that - that was co-production - he vetoed that --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well - yeah, yeah, but any time you enter into co-production, we have those restrictions too. I mean, if we provide weaponry to a country and it's part of an agreement, they can't transfer that to a third country without our approval. That's - we do the same thing. And Israel's not the only country in the world that does it. Other countries do it with their systems as well. That's just a normal way - when you do arms sales, part of the restrictions is you get to veto them passing it on to a third country. That's not just us or Israel; it's every country.
QUESTION: Is President Trump coming to Manila for the ASEAN leaders' summit in November?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think he'd like to. I don't know what the schedule looks like yet. I can't commit him to that trip because I don't control his schedule. But he was there last year, and I think that's something that we're going to talk about. It's an important forum, and I think APEC is a few days after. So - but I'm not - I can't make scheduling announcements for you today.
QUESTION: Secretary --
QUESTION: Secretary, would you rule out running for president in 2028?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Do what? I'm not answering political questions.
QUESTION: Would you rule it out?
SECRETARY RUBIO: C'mon, guys.
QUESTION: Secretary, do you think this visit has eased declining U.S. engagement in Asia?
SECRETARY RUBIO: There - eased concerns about our engagement in Asia? I mean, we're engaged in Asia every single day. I mean, obviously this is a conference, we're here, we're participating, but we're engaged in Asia every single day. The Department of War is present all over Asia. The Department of State and our embassies are involved every single day in Asia. We have strong partnerships and economic ties to multiple countries in Asia. Virtually every country represented here in ASEAN is someone that we deal with every single day.
So there's a lot of competing interests in the world, so I think there's always going to be a concern that America is so focused on one place that it can't focus on another. But one of the great things about our country is that it is a large, powerful country. It has the ability to be present in the Western Hemisphere, in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe, in Africa, in the Middle East, and anywhere else where our interests are vital, including the Arctic, by the way.
QUESTION: Sir, do you think it would be easier to make a deal with Iran if the United States didn't wipe out so many layers of their leadership? Trump often mentions that they're on the third tier now. Do you think it would be easier - or harder --
SECRETARY RUBIO: To do what?
QUESTION: To make a deal. You --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think the first two layers weren't necessarily the nicest people on earth. So I don't think that - we'll just keep going down the layers, I guess. But I don't - the first two layers were not, like, reformers. These were not, like, Renaissance men, you know what I mean? So I'm not - I don't think that the layers are the issue here. Look, the system is a - at the end of the day, it's a country run by radical clerics. I think they have political people in their system. I wouldn't call them moderates but they at least understand, like, that hyperinflation is bad, high food prices is bad, gas shortages are bad. But I think when you get to that clerical level, these guys are just oblivious to all of that, and they're destroying their country.
These are the people - understand, Iran is a rich country. Iran could be the richest country in the Middle East that they want it to be, but instead, they take their money and they use it and they give it to Hizballah, they give it to Hamas, they give it to the Houthis, they give it to Shia militias, they give it to sponsor terrorism all over the world, they give it to try to kill people all over the world, they build drones and missiles and pursue a nuclear weapons program. That's what they spent their money on. If they had spent their money on their people and on their economy, today, Iran could be probably the richest country in the region, if you want to know the truth.
QUESTION: So - but how many layers do you have to hit?
QUESTION: And given that, Mr. Secretary, is the U.S. seeking a regime change in Iran or just changing its behavior?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think the U.S. is seeking a denuclearized Iran that will never have a nuclear weapon. The future of Iran, that's obviously - it would be easier to have people in charge that don't want nuclear weapons, but in the end that's our interest. Our number one interest and the threat they pose to the world is these lunatics in possession of a nuclear weapon, and that's not going to happen, not as long as Donald Trump is President. I don't know if some future president - or I know some past presidents have made some bad deals, and others just haven't dealt with the problem. But our issue and our concern and our focus is denuclearizing Iran. They can never have a nuclear weapon. I don't know how many times the President has to say that.
QUESTION: But if this group of people who you describe as lunatics, I mean, if they decide to make a deal with the United States --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, some of them are lunatics, some of them are evil; some of them are evil lunatics. You can be both.
QUESTION: So the United States is okay, comfortable leaving these evil lunatics in place --
SECRETARY RUBIO: They just can't have a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I mean, imagine what they would do to the world.
QUESTION: What changed between now and the beginning of the war when the President made it sound like that was not going to be the case, that regime change was one of the goals of the war?
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, he never said regime change was a goal. From the very beginning, like from day one of the operation, it was very clear that we were going to degrade their missile launchers, their drones, and their factories, and their navy. Their navy no longer exists. The - there is no such thing as an Iranian navy. What they have left is a handful of Boston whalers, but they don't really have a lot of - they don't have a navy. They don't have an air force. Their air defenses are crushed, from the very beginning.
Now, what the President has pointed to is the fact that the people of Iran deserve better leadership. I mean, they slaughter their own people by the thousands. They shoot them in the head; they slaughter them in the streets. Yeah, we don't like that; we don't think that's good for Iran. But our goal and our national interest in Iran is they can never have a nuclear weapon. And that's what they were going to try to do if they had been able to hide behind double the number of missiles, double the number of drones that they - that's where they would have been in about a year, had they continued on the pace of construction.
Even though their economy was suffering, even though their people were suffering, that's what they were spending their money on, even though they had sanctions. The money that was coming in, they were spending it on those things. That tells you everything you need to know about them.
QUESTION: Why does --
SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, guys, thank you.
QUESTION: Can we have a photo with you, Secretary?
QUESTION: Thank you.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-the-press-15/
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press
SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, what's up?
QUESTION: Have you made any progress on Ukraine today? Is Russia serious about peace this time?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, you ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following transcript of a news conference by Secretary Marco Rubio at the Philippine International Convention Center highlighting U.S. willingness to broker a peace deal in Ukraine while fielding questions on escalating strikes against Iran and reaffirming defense ties with regional allies in the Indo-Pacific: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, what's up? QUESTION: Have you made any progress on Ukraine today? Is Russia serious about peace this time? SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, youthink we settled the war in Ukraine in our 30 minutes here in Asia? That's not the way it works. Look, we had a good conversation, a frank conversation. I'm not going to tell you what we talked about, because these - diplomacy doesn't work well when you run to the microphones afterwards. Suffice it to say - I'll tell you what I told you yesterday. The United States, the President's been clear that we want - if we can, we are prepared to play a constructive role in bringing about an end to a senseless war. And we're ready to do that, and we of course expressed that, and we've expressed it in other meetings. So we talked about other things as well.
QUESTION: Did you talk to him about Russia sharing information with Iran targeting U.S. troops?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, who says that they are?
QUESTION: Are they not?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Who says they are?
QUESTION: Hegseth acknowledged that Russia was enabling in some ways, both Russia and China.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, but that's a different question from what you just asked me. Who said that they were - they're doing that?
QUESTION: There's been reporting that there's - are you --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Reporting in the media?
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, then it must be true.
QUESTION: So is it not true?
SECRETARY RUBIO: If it's in the media, it's a leaker. I'm not going to - let me say - let's imagine that were true. I certainly wouldn't discuss it in the press. I've already told you guys yesterday something and I was very clear about it. Nothing that Iran is doing - nothing that anyone's doing to help Iran is in any way increasing their ability to target Americans.
What you need to all understand - because we've explained this repeatedly - is Iran has spent the better part of 20 years not just sponsoring terrorism but building long-range rockets, short-range missiles, and drones. And they were intending to build them a lot more. They were intending to double their stockpile. The stuff you're seeing them use now, they were going to double that. And they were going to use that and hide behind that to say, we're untouchable, we can now do a nuclear weapon, and you guys can't touch us or we'll overwhelm your air defenses, which is why the President had to address this threat.
And he did, and he should have. Another President should have done it earlier. The world will be a safer place because we addressed it. Unfortunately, in the short term it creates disruptions, but you know what's really disruptive? A nuclear weapon in the hands of these radicals.
QUESTION: In Ukraine, do you sense that the momentum is shifting a little bit in the conflict? And if so, does that manifest itself in these diplomatic discussions?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think it's a bloody war. I think it's a very bloody war. I think Russia is now suffering strikes deep in their territory. That's something you didn't see. At the end of the year, the winter's still going to hit Ukraine, and they're obviously going to have to defend their airspace. People suffering every day, the - I think it's the only conflict - I've been told it's the only conflict that anyone in the military can recall where the killed-in-action rate is higher than the casualty rate. That's how bloody it is. The Russians, I believe, are losing upwards of five to six thousand soldiers a week. That's a staggering number.
QUESTION: Can you feel that with Lavrov? Does Lavrov sort of express that or acknowledge that in any --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, guys, I mean, when I have these talks, these things don't work well unless I come out here and characterize what the other side is saying. Suffice it to say that I think it's obvious to everyone that this war is very bloody. And look, Ukraine's paid a tremendous price as well. I mean, we've seen civilian deaths, strikes in Kyiv. We've seen some of that increase. Certainly, I mean, this war has not been good for Ukraine either.
So I think both sides should have an incentive to bring it to an end. That's been the challenge is an end that both sides can accept. And we've tried and we'll continue to try to see if we can find a middle ground that brings this about, and we're prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself. We expressed that today and we've expressed it in the past.
QUESTION: China today --
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Russian --
QUESTION: China today launched --
QUESTION: The Russian --
QUESTION: -- live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: -- and apparently used water cannon on Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, those are two separate instances, but yeah --
QUESTION: Two separate instances right as your Chinese (inaudible) --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, I mean, on the - well, look, I mean, they know where we feel about those issues. Obviously, we publicly expressed ourselves on the missile launch. It's a destabilizing event. And what's happened with the Philippines, obviously we saw that, too. The whole world saw it, and it's disturbing. And these challenges and these claims of sovereignty over territory are a growing challenge. It's why we continue to reiterate our commitment to our treaty partners but also our commitment to freedom of navigation and respect for territorial rights in the region. And it's one of the cornerstones of our engagement in the Indo-Pacific and especially via ASEAN, and I made that point in every forum that we've had here.
QUESTION: Sir, President Trump, he said on Truth Social that the U.S. is going to bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant every time that Iran targets a ship in the strait. Is he talking about civilian infrastructure there? And do you think that is an effective strategy?
SECRETARY RUBIO: He's - this is what he's talking about. Iran is begging us, okay, both directly and indirectly, let's do a deal, let's talk, let's talk. Iran is begging every day. The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal, the people that are in charge there, they either break it or they want to change it. So it looks like they're not ready to make a deal, so they're going to continue to pay a price. And they're - every night the price gets higher and higher and higher. And that's what's happening now. And until - maybe in a few days, they'll be ready to make a deal once they realize that this is not a winning proposition for them.
And that's what the President is outlining, the idea that this is going to continue. It's not going to continue this way - the price will continue to get higher every single night until they come to their senses. Right now, apparently they haven't come to their senses, and so the President doesn't see a lot of utility in responding to their overtures at this point because, frankly, Iran is clearly not ready to make a deal, at least not one they're willing to live by.
QUESTION: But is he talking about civilian infrastructure, bridges?
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, yesterday you were saying - you were hoping to - that there would be de-escalation in the Red Sea, and the Houthis now attacked two - two Saudi ships. What is your reaction to that?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, I hope that they'll stop. They shouldn't really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians. The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships.
And by the way, that's - I was reading reports a few hours ago that there was actually a Saudi fuel ship that's flagged Chinese. It's A Chinese ship. Are they going to blow up the Chinese ship? And this becomes a problem for China, this will become a problem for the whole world. But I hope that will de-escalate, because I think the Houthis frankly got snookered into this thing by the Iranians. And they were smart to stay out of it and they should stay out of it and they should stop. We'll see what happens there. Obviously, it's not a positive development. We'll see what happens.
QUESTION: Secretary, what prompted the easing of --
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm sorry, man. I love the real court reporter thing. It's cool. Why don't the rest of you guys have this? This guy's the smartest guy here.
QUESTION: He's a trendsetter. We're catching up to him.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I know, he is. You better catch up. All right, go ahead. I'm sorry.
QUESTION: Yes, what prompted the easing of sanctions on Hong Kong last week in terms of letting the executive order expire on lifting sanctions --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah - no, it wasn't easing of sanctions. The executive order expired. The conditions underlying some of those elements no longer existed. But there remain other individuals that remain sanctioned nonetheless, despite - the executive order is a partial expiration on certain individuals, but not on others. It just depends on the light of it. And the justification and rationale behind that original executive order had sort of - the circumstances had changed in the President's judgment.
But there are individuals - there's still a significant number of individuals in Hong Kong that remain sanctioned that were not covered by the executive order. And that remains in place and, obviously, that was raised with us yesterday, but we don't see a change anytime in the near future on that.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Russian readout of your meeting also once again mentions Anchorage proposals. Can you describe what those proposals are and how relevant are they today?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, there was no - I mean, proposals, we know they've been reported - they call it 3+2, they're (inaudible), but those failed. The - you can't have a peace deal unless both sides agree to it, and the Ukrainians would not agree to it, and so that's why that effort didn't work. So we'll have to find new suggestions and new ideas, because certainly that one, it was not acceptable in Ukraine at the time, and I don't think it's acceptable to them now either. In fact, it's probably less acceptable to them.
So if - when peace comes, it'll be because of some new idea and some new concepts, and we're prepared to offer some of those in the right setting and forum. If the opportunity presents itself and the conditions are right, we're prepared to play that role in a positive way.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: Will the President - will the President meet with --
QUESTION: Is the U.S. looking to step up its strategy to assisting Manila in terms of putting more strategy in terms of the (inaudible), in terms of freedom of navigation operations, will you be conducting more of that soon in the --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, look, we're a treaty ally. I mean, the United States and the Philippines have a treaty, and so we will live by that treaty. We're committed to supporting our treaty partners, and obviously we've already done quite a bit. In fact, there was a U.S. Coast Guard vessel in the region at the time that this happened and actually helped stand between the two sides and allowed the individual who was injured to be rescued and brought back for medical treatment. So we're already here, we're already present, we have a role, and we're not going to abandon our allies. We've made that abundantly clear.
We're going to have a - a relationship with China. Okay? These are the two most powerful economies in the world, two large militaries, two nuclear powers. We have to have a relationship with China and we want it to be as positive as it possibly can be. But that won't come at the expense of our allies and our partners in the region or our presence here either.
QUESTION: Sir, it's been a day since we asked you about the Saudi nuclear agreement.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.
QUESTION: Have you had chance to look further on that?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, let me - no, but let refer - I know that was in the press the last few days --
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- but let me refer you back - I think it was in November of last year --
QUESTION: Right.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- when the Energy Department entered into this agreement, so the details are there. Obviously, even when the official announcement is made, it will have to go through a congressional notification process, and then we can talk more in depth about it. But suffice it to say that the U.S. is always looking for cooperation agreements with allies. I mean, Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of the United States.
And I think, without speaking in specificity about that deal, but in general, we're not the only country in the world that offers nuclear technology. And when countries decide that they want to pursue a peaceful civil nuclear program, we'd prefer them do it with us than do it with some other country. It allows us to have influence over the direction that it goes. It allows us to make sure that there are safeguards in place, things of this nature.
And in the case of Saudi Arabia, they've been an important strategic partner for us, so it would make sense for us to enter into such an agreement. But obviously the details of it, once it's released, you'll see it, you'll be able to understand it, and more importantly, it'll go through its congressional review process, which is a key part of this. And so there'll be a lot more questions answered at that time.
QUESTION: Would you be comfortable with Saudi Arabia enriching and reprocessing uranium?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'll let the agreement speak for itself. Suffice it to say that any agreement that we're going to make with any country in the world on civil nuclear energy is going to be one that will have safeguards in place to ensure that it can't be turned into a weapons program. And one of the best safeguards is to make sure that American technology and American companies are the ones that are involved in doing it. If, on the other hand, a country pursues nuclear technology with another country, well then we don't really control those safeguards.
So again, Saudi Arabia is - seeks to have a peaceful, civil nuclear program. Other countries do as well. We have a similar agreement in place now with the UAE, and U.S. companies are the world standard in providing that. And so we are always looking for opportunities, by the way, not just in conventional reactors but in small modular reactors, which is an area that we are increasingly around signing MOUs all over the world to help do as well.
To countries that are exploring civil, peaceful nuclear energy, the United States wants to be their partner of choice, and we're always looking for opportunities to be able to make sure that our technology and our companies are the ones that are providing that.
Does anybody over here have questions, because this side is - really lopsided.
QUESTION: Yes. Will the U.S. --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Go ahead.
QUESTION: Will the U.S. put sanctions on China's Moonshot AI for apparently distilling U.S. technology?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I don't have any announcement on that today.
QUESTION: Shouldn't the Saudis agree to the additional protocol? It's sort of the gold standard. And if the administration is trying to stand up to say that nonproliferation is a problem in the Middle East, shouldn't that be the --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Any agreement that we would make on civil and nuclear energy with Saudi Arabia or any other country is going to have safeguards in place to ensure that those cannot ever be turned into a weapons program. I mean, that's the gold standard. And obviously, we live in a new era. There are competitors that we face, so we'll have to adjust individual deals to that reality. We're not the only show in town but we're the best show in town. But we want to be - we want to make sure that it's our companies they're picking.
So again, we understand any deal we enter into with any country will have to go through a congressional review process. And so we will ensure that, in order to get congressional approval, we're going to need to have those safeguards in place. Whether they're structured differently, how they --
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- (inaudible) deals in the past or not will depend on the individual deal.
QUESTION: On Cuba policy, you've said in recent --
SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm in Asia and you're asking me about Cuba. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Right. But you said yesterday you're the main guy in Cuba policy, so we should ask you.
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I said I'm most - you guys were - someone asked me a question about people that are involved in Cuba policy --
QUESTION: Right.
SECRETARY RUBIO: -- so no one's more involved in it than me, so go ahead.
QUESTION: Yeah, so - so this is a good question for you. So you said in recent months that the economic system can't improve unless there's a change in the political system. But you - you've been very vague about what that change in the political system would entail. Can you give us some more details? Would the Communist Party stay in power but have different leadership? Would the Castros still be in power? Would --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You want me to give you details on our plan?
QUESTION: Yeah, just --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, not today. No, I'm not going to do that.
QUESTION: But what do you mean when you say there needs to be political change --
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, here's what I told you, and this is the truth. The people who are in charge of the country don't know what they're doing. They don't know. They don't know how to fix their economy. They don't know - they don't understand basic concepts. And I think the challenge that Cuba has faced for the last 15 years is they want to somewhat improve their economy, but they're afraid that if they improve it too much they'll lose political control over people. That's the challenge that they face.
QUESTION: Secretary --
SECRETARY RUBIO: So I think for us, we are looking for an opportunity to influence the direction that that goes, because it's 90 miles from our shores. And we want Cuba to be prosperous; we want Cuba to be free. But in that sense, on the level of detail you're asking me, suffice it to say that as long as the people that are in charge think the way these people think and act the way these people act, it's going to be difficult for them to make the changes that need to be made in order for Cuba to have a better future.
Because they just really - they either - they don't understand. Some of them are incompetent and some of them just basically don't understand, and others are just so recalcitrant that they'd rather destroy the country than ever walk away from a failed ideology, although I think the number of people in that category is less than it's ever been. But for the most part, it's just people that don't know what an economy is supposed to look like. They really don't, because they've always relied on foreign sponsors. That regime has survived on subsidies from the Soviet Union and then from Chavez. This is the first time they don't have a sponsor that's giving them subsidies for free, and they don't know what to do with themselves, because all they've done is freeload off these countries for all these years. The people of Cuba deserve better than that.
QUESTION: On Venezuela --
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the appropriate defense spending for allies like Japan and the Philippines?
SECRETARY RUBIO: What is my opinion on --
QUESTION: Defense spending - appropriate defense spending.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we've communicated that to them. But look, at the end of the day, I still think that these are partners and allies, but we want countries to assume more responsibility for their own security. And for the most part, I think the countries in this region agree. And so the U.S. will continue to do its part, but by the same token, we're now, in many cases, dealing with advanced and wealthy economies who have the ability to spend more on their own defense, and they should. I think the primary responsibility of any government is the national security of their country. So - but I wouldn't - I don't think it's a point of conflict between us and the regime.
QUESTION: On Venezuela --
QUESTION: Secretary, back on my other question --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes.
QUESTION: Secretary, on South China Sea, are you looking to at least step up this support that you've mentioned, especially (inaudible) U.S.-commissioned (inaudible)?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, look, again, we have a treaty agreement with the Philippines that we intend to keep, we have a treaty agreement that we intend to live by, and we have had a long-standing defense partnership. We don't view that as a hostile act towards anybody. We view it as keeping our commitments to long-term allies with whom we have many shared values, shared history, and, we hope, a shared future.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary --
QUESTION: On Venezuela, you said that next month, I think, they're going to start this transition task.
SECRETARY RUBIO: First week of August, yeah.
QUESTION: Yeah, between the interim government and --
SECRETARY RUBIO: The 2015 Assembly.
QUESTION: -- and the 2015 Assembly. Is there going to be a direct role for Maria Corina Machado and her opposition movement that won the last election?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's up to the Venezuelans to decide. I'm sure she can play a role if they allow her - if they want her to. The 2015 National Assembly is the government that we recognized up - that's the government we had recognized up until these changes when we have these interim authorities, but we think it's a really good development.
In the end, I would say that in order for Venezuela to have the reconciliation that that country requires to move forward on all these other projects, every element of Venezuelan society needs to be represented. And obviously, Maria Corina represents an important element of that. I mean, she's got supporters there and people that are supportive of her. And there are others as well.
But a reconciliation process, we are there to facilitate it, not to dictate it, and we will certainly provide guidance and support in the direction that it moves forward. We think it's important for the country to do that, and there's a lot to work on. I mean, if you think about in a country like that that's been under a regime now for 20 to 25 years, political parties have to transition from being street protest movements to electoral forces.
You have to have a free and open press so you can communicate it. You have to have an electoral council that'll actually accurately count the votes. You have to have enough security in the streets to ensure that the ballot box is safe and people aren't being intimidated. There's a lot that goes into an election, then creating the infrastructure for an election. That really was not invested in for a very long time and, in some cases, they were hostile towards.
So there's a lot of change to happen, but what it requires is patience, persistence. We have to stay on top of it, because these transitions do take some time. They don't need to take a decade, or even five or seven years, but they take more than a few weeks, especially when you're dealing with something that's been in place for 25 years, unfortunately.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, there's some prominent Republicans who have said they want you to take over the Iran negotiations. They trust you. They think that you will prioritize Israel's interests. And they're attacking Vice President Vance.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Who are these prominent Republicans?
QUESTION: Well, Senator Sheehy, The Wall Street Journal opinion page. There's people --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's not a Republican; that's a newspaper.
QUESTION: Well, they --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You're a troublemaker with these questions. No --
QUESTION: I think you know it leans - it leans right of center. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, no, look, guys, listen, here's the bottom - here's - you know who the lead negotiator is? His name is Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States. That's who dictates our policy. He has a team of people that work together on this. We all have a role to play, depending on what the topic is. We have very good negotiators in Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. We have the Vice President of the United States, which is the second highest-ranking official, which tells you how - the importance we've given in this file. Obviously I have a role to play; the Department of War has had a role to play. That's how we approach it. This doesn't - I mean, it's a combined effort, and it always should be.
QUESTION: Do you wish people didn't endorse you to take over the talks yourself?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, you're telling me about that, but that's not how our system works; that's not how this administration works. It starts at the top. The President is in charge, and he has a team of people that provide counsel, provide advice, but ultimately whose job it is to execute on the President's directive. We have a great team that works very well together on that topic, we - to work well together on a number of topics. We've worked together as a team on Lebanon; we've worked together as a team on Venezuela. We've worked together as a team on the Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement that was put together. We've worked together as a team - we have a really good core team that works on foreign policy and national security.
And oftentimes it's a multi-agency effort, because there's a role for Treasury to play, sometimes there's a role for Energy to play. That's how these things work. It's not one person. It's all these different elements of our government that have to work in conjunction and in concert to execute on the President's directive and on the direction that he's giving us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I --
QUESTION: Secretary, you've argued that the ICC threatens --
QUESTION: Graham did call him the architect of the deal.
QUESTION: Secretary, you've argued that the ICC threatens the sovereignty of the United States and its allies. How do you reconcile that position with the need for an international mechanism for - to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, here's how I reconcile it. We're not members of the ICC. We never signed that treaty; we never joined it. And they somehow claim that they have a right nonetheless to go after non-treaty members and put heads of state and others in jail. We've long had quarrels with them, and we have lunatics and crazies involved in the ICC that are talking about charging members of the U.S. military, maybe even the President or a future president, with crimes. And it's not going to happen; it's just not going to happen.
We are not members of that court; we never signed on to that treaty. They need to understand that. If people want to sign and be a part of that stupid organization, they can. But we're not going to be a part of it, and they're not going to apply their jurisdiction to Americans. That's just not going to happen. We're not going to tolerate it now or in the future, and we've warned them about it repeatedly. And now they're going to see the consequences of ignoring us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can I come back to Ukraine, please?
QUESTION: (Inaudible) administration rule out striking civilian infrastructure?
SECRETARY RUBIO: You want to go back to Ukraine? Oh, that's a question. Yeah.
QUESTION: As a - yeah - and your meeting with Mr. Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Mr. Lavrov told you or asked you or said to you that the U.S. needs to stop arming Ukraine. What was your reaction? And - there's a statement. They said that, that Mr. Lavrov --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I - I mean, I don't know what those statements - I know what happened in our meeting. At the end of the day --
QUESTION: Yeah, but what did you say?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, first of all, the U.S. position on it is we don't - we sell arms.
QUESTION: Yeah.
SECRETARY RUBIO: We sell arms via PURL, which is an initiative we have through NATO. And that's what we're involved in. There's been no change to our policy in that regard. But we want a peace deal; we want the war to end. We're prepared to play whatever positive role we can to end the war. And that - in order to end this war will require something that both Russia and Ukraine can agree to. That's not going to happen at a press conference. That's not going to happen at one meeting here in the Philippines. That's going to require a lot of work.
We've invested in the past in it. It was unsuccessful or at least unfruitful at the time. If conditions and factors have changed to make that possible, we're ready to go. The President's committed to that. And every single day - if we identify an opportunity to make a difference in that, we will. Because in the end, what the President most cares about is not the stuff people are - well, here's what he most cares about: that people stop dying, that people stop being slaughtered, that Ukraine no - can go on and live in peace and Ukrainians can move back to their country and rebuild it, that young Russians aren't being killed at the tune of 5,000 a week in the battlefield.
He thinks it's a stupid war; he thinks it's a senseless war. And if we can play a role in bringing it to an end, we're going to use the power and influence of the United States to do so. And we're prepared to do that as the opportunity presents itself, and I hope it has and I hope it does. And that's what we've communicated consistently to both sides, by the way.
QUESTION: On that line, Mr. Secretary, you said that you are open for new ideas. Now that you've met with Lavrov, are you and the President prepared to sit down with your counterparts - Ukrainian counterparts - if they visit Washington next week for the funeral?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well - well, I don't know if they're coming next week or not. I think President Zelenskyy had expressed an interest in coming. We've met - I mean, we just saw - we'll meet with them. We've met with them often; we talk to them often. In fact, we saw them two weeks ago in Turkiye. I would argue we've probably met with the Ukrainians far more times than we've met with the Russian side, and I'm sure we'll meet again in the future, whenever that is. We're always open to meeting with them.
QUESTION: Did you --
QUESTION: On Trump's statement about the bridges and the power plants, just want some clarification. Do you rule out striking civilian infrastructure?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think --
QUESTION: Because he's talking about that.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Guys, I saw Araghchi, their foreign minister, who the other day say - or something about their policy is an eye for an eye. The President's policy is a head for an eye. I mean, honestly, that's what it's going to be. I mean, they will pay a very heavy price for the things they're doing. They're already paying a very heavy price. You guys don't know it because you don't cover it. You're not in Iran; you're not in the street. They don't have a free media. But they're going to continue to pay a very heavy price.
Their industrial base has been decimated. Their defense industrial base has been decimated. They're losing launchers; they're losing radars every single night. They are suffering billions of dollars in damage, and their economy is a disaster. But despite all that, okay, these people who are calling us every day begging, let's do a deal, they send us messages through other countries, third countries. I mean, they're running out of countries to send - even I had countries here coming up to me, oh, I just spoke to the Iranians, they want to do a deal. The problem is, every time these people do a deal, they either break it or, after they make it, they want to change the deal.
So they're probably not ready to do a deal yet, but they will be soon because the price they're paying is very high despite their tough talk and their flowery language and their stupid Lego videos they put out - I've never seen them but they put these things out on social media. Despite all that bravado, they are suffering tremendously, and they're going to suffer more until they come to their senses. They're not there yet, unfortunately.
QUESTION: Which countries came to you?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, I can't tell you who told me that.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
QUESTION: There's 11 here.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, I'd be betraying their confidences. There's some of them that are here, yeah, and every day I get a text or a call or a Signal message from a foreign minister: oh, so-and-so called me, the Iranians want to talk. The Iranians want to talk, but the problem with these guys, in addition to the fact that they're probably fighting with each other, is they make a deal, they agree to something, and then they decide, oh, let's change it after they made it, or they agree - or they decide, oh, I know we made a deal, but we're going to violate it. I mean, these people unfortunately just - they aren't ready for a deal. I think they'll be ready soon, though.
QUESTION: Do you think there's going to be a big escalation by the United States in the coming days?
SECRETARY RUBIO: That's the President's decision to make. They're going to pay a price. They're already paying a price every single night. I mean, you can't do the stuff they're doing for free. They're going to pay a price.
QUESTION: On Russia and Ukraine, did you talk with Wang Yi about any influence that China might be able to exercise to help bring that war to an end?
SECRETARY RUBIO: We didn't discuss in our meeting, no. We didn't discuss Russia and Ukraine. We had a lot of other stuff to talk about.
QUESTION: Secretary, did you discuss with Wang Yi the issue of technology and whether that will be on the agenda for the September leaders' meeting.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's a broad topic. Technology like what?
QUESTION: AI - AI disputes.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, AI. Yeah, look, I think that they've expressed - they'd like to see some global governance about what AI is governed by. Obviously, we're - I'm not sure we're aligned on that point yet, but that topic has come up. I think they've expressed an interest in discussing what the rules are going to be for how AI is used in the future, and I think that's going to have to be an international conversation. So we have some ideas about what that should look like and what those standards should be, and maybe they're different from theirs, but we didn't go into great depth on that topic. But it's an issue - it came up in Beijing as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, just final point on Iran, this - what is Iran's offramp? Is diplomacy running out of time?
SECRETARY RUBIO: With Iran?
QUESTION: Mm-hmm.
SECRETARY RUBIO: I just don't think they're serious about making a deal. These guys, I mean, the more the President's gotten to know them, the more he's come to that realization. I mean, he said it yesterday, I believe. He gave a speech in Georgia. These guys, the problem with them is you can't make a deal with people unless they're going to keep it, and these people make deals and then they break it almost immediately, or they decide, oh, let's change the deal. That's not how deals work. I mean, they violated the MOU within days of it being implemented. We kept our end of it. So now they're paying the price for it. And maybe they'll change their mind here over the next few days as they continue to suffer great losses.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you know the Senate better than most anybody. They're debating the new military policy bill right now after the House passed it. One of the more controversial topics is about fusing the U.S. and Israeli military when it comes to co-production on things. Do you have any sovereignty concerns about that, if there are situations where the United States wants to send weapons? Iron Dome came up with Ukraine when the Israelis --
SECRETARY RUBIO: You're asking about NDAA? Yeah, I mean, that - largely the Department of War manages that legislative portfolio, so I'm aware of the provision you're discussing that involves cooperation on technology. And look, at the end of the day, the truth is we do that with countries all over the world.
QUESTION: So you support it?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I mean, if somebody - well, I haven't read the specific provision in terms to tell you in detail. I understand - I understand the topic, though, because it's not new. On air defense, for example, we've long cooperated with the Israelis. Look, if we have a breakthrough in our system or they have a breakthrough in theirs, we could share that in a way to improve our own systems as well. So if they've come up with some novel way of defeating drones, for example, of course we would want to have that and benefit from it. By the way, they're not the only country in the world that we would do that with. We do that with other countries as well.
So I think that's the provision you're referring to, and that's something we're already doing. I mean, that's something that already exists. But I don't think there's - that's different from sovereignty. I mean, it's not like U.S. forces are going to come under the command and control of a foreign general or anything of that nature.
QUESTION: But when Ukraine was asking for Iron Dome, the United States and some lawmakers, including Lindsey Graham, wanted the U.S. to send Iron Dome battery that was in the East Coast. Netanyahu vetoed that - that was co-production - he vetoed that --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well - yeah, yeah, but any time you enter into co-production, we have those restrictions too. I mean, if we provide weaponry to a country and it's part of an agreement, they can't transfer that to a third country without our approval. That's - we do the same thing. And Israel's not the only country in the world that does it. Other countries do it with their systems as well. That's just a normal way - when you do arms sales, part of the restrictions is you get to veto them passing it on to a third country. That's not just us or Israel; it's every country.
QUESTION: Is President Trump coming to Manila for the ASEAN leaders' summit in November?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think he'd like to. I don't know what the schedule looks like yet. I can't commit him to that trip because I don't control his schedule. But he was there last year, and I think that's something that we're going to talk about. It's an important forum, and I think APEC is a few days after. So - but I'm not - I can't make scheduling announcements for you today.
QUESTION: Secretary --
QUESTION: Secretary, would you rule out running for president in 2028?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Do what? I'm not answering political questions.
QUESTION: Would you rule it out?
SECRETARY RUBIO: C'mon, guys.
QUESTION: Secretary, do you think this visit has eased declining U.S. engagement in Asia?
SECRETARY RUBIO: There - eased concerns about our engagement in Asia? I mean, we're engaged in Asia every single day. I mean, obviously this is a conference, we're here, we're participating, but we're engaged in Asia every single day. The Department of War is present all over Asia. The Department of State and our embassies are involved every single day in Asia. We have strong partnerships and economic ties to multiple countries in Asia. Virtually every country represented here in ASEAN is someone that we deal with every single day.
So there's a lot of competing interests in the world, so I think there's always going to be a concern that America is so focused on one place that it can't focus on another. But one of the great things about our country is that it is a large, powerful country. It has the ability to be present in the Western Hemisphere, in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe, in Africa, in the Middle East, and anywhere else where our interests are vital, including the Arctic, by the way.
QUESTION: Sir, do you think it would be easier to make a deal with Iran if the United States didn't wipe out so many layers of their leadership? Trump often mentions that they're on the third tier now. Do you think it would be easier - or harder --
SECRETARY RUBIO: To do what?
QUESTION: To make a deal. You --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think the first two layers weren't necessarily the nicest people on earth. So I don't think that - we'll just keep going down the layers, I guess. But I don't - the first two layers were not, like, reformers. These were not, like, Renaissance men, you know what I mean? So I'm not - I don't think that the layers are the issue here. Look, the system is a - at the end of the day, it's a country run by radical clerics. I think they have political people in their system. I wouldn't call them moderates but they at least understand, like, that hyperinflation is bad, high food prices is bad, gas shortages are bad. But I think when you get to that clerical level, these guys are just oblivious to all of that, and they're destroying their country.
These are the people - understand, Iran is a rich country. Iran could be the richest country in the Middle East that they want it to be, but instead, they take their money and they use it and they give it to Hizballah, they give it to Hamas, they give it to the Houthis, they give it to Shia militias, they give it to sponsor terrorism all over the world, they give it to try to kill people all over the world, they build drones and missiles and pursue a nuclear weapons program. That's what they spent their money on. If they had spent their money on their people and on their economy, today, Iran could be probably the richest country in the region, if you want to know the truth.
QUESTION: So - but how many layers do you have to hit?
QUESTION: And given that, Mr. Secretary, is the U.S. seeking a regime change in Iran or just changing its behavior?
SECRETARY RUBIO: I think the U.S. is seeking a denuclearized Iran that will never have a nuclear weapon. The future of Iran, that's obviously - it would be easier to have people in charge that don't want nuclear weapons, but in the end that's our interest. Our number one interest and the threat they pose to the world is these lunatics in possession of a nuclear weapon, and that's not going to happen, not as long as Donald Trump is President. I don't know if some future president - or I know some past presidents have made some bad deals, and others just haven't dealt with the problem. But our issue and our concern and our focus is denuclearizing Iran. They can never have a nuclear weapon. I don't know how many times the President has to say that.
QUESTION: But if this group of people who you describe as lunatics, I mean, if they decide to make a deal with the United States --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, some of them are lunatics, some of them are evil; some of them are evil lunatics. You can be both.
QUESTION: So the United States is okay, comfortable leaving these evil lunatics in place --
SECRETARY RUBIO: They just can't have a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I mean, imagine what they would do to the world.
QUESTION: What changed between now and the beginning of the war when the President made it sound like that was not going to be the case, that regime change was one of the goals of the war?
SECRETARY RUBIO: No, he never said regime change was a goal. From the very beginning, like from day one of the operation, it was very clear that we were going to degrade their missile launchers, their drones, and their factories, and their navy. Their navy no longer exists. The - there is no such thing as an Iranian navy. What they have left is a handful of Boston whalers, but they don't really have a lot of - they don't have a navy. They don't have an air force. Their air defenses are crushed, from the very beginning.
Now, what the President has pointed to is the fact that the people of Iran deserve better leadership. I mean, they slaughter their own people by the thousands. They shoot them in the head; they slaughter them in the streets. Yeah, we don't like that; we don't think that's good for Iran. But our goal and our national interest in Iran is they can never have a nuclear weapon. And that's what they were going to try to do if they had been able to hide behind double the number of missiles, double the number of drones that they - that's where they would have been in about a year, had they continued on the pace of construction.
Even though their economy was suffering, even though their people were suffering, that's what they were spending their money on, even though they had sanctions. The money that was coming in, they were spending it on those things. That tells you everything you need to know about them.
QUESTION: Why does --
SECRETARY RUBIO: All right, guys, thank you.
QUESTION: Can we have a photo with you, Secretary?
QUESTION: Thank you.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-remarks-to-the-press-15/
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Mexico-Based Company, Its CEO, 4 Individuals in Alleged Ponzi Scheme Targeting Spanish-Speaking U.S. Investors
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:23-cv-00353; W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V. et. al, No. 3:23-cv-00353 (W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023)
On July 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas entered a final judgment as to Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V., its CEO Armando Gutierrez Rosas, and four individuals in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme that raised millions from retail investors ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:23-cv-00353; W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023): * * * Securities and Exchange Commission v. Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V. et. al, No. 3:23-cv-00353 (W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023) On July 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas entered a final judgment as to Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V., its CEO Armando Gutierrez Rosas, and four individuals in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme that raised millions from retail investorsin the U.S., most of whom were members of the Mexican American community.
The SEC's complaint, filed on September 21, 2023, alleged that, from about March 2020 through November 2021, Gutierrez raised money from investors for the purported purpose of investing in U.S. real estate and mining operations in Mexico, promising investors monthly returns as high as 10 percent. According to the complaint, no investor funds were used for investment purposes; instead, Gutierrez was operating a Ponzi scheme and affinity fraud and used investor funds to pay for his personal expenses including a $2.5 million mansion in Texas.
The SEC charged Aras and Gutierrez with violating Sections 5 and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. It also charged Gutierrez with control person liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and charged the four individuals with various violations of the federal securities laws, including aiding and abetting Aras's and Gutierrez's violations of the antifraud provisions.
On September 25, 2023, the Court entered consent judgments as to the four individuals, which enjoined them from future violations of the charged provisions. On November 5, 2025, the Court entered a default judgment as to liability against Aras and Gutierrez.
The final judgment ordered the defendants liable for disgorgement with prejudgment interest in the following amounts: $448,746 and $129,614 against Aras and Gutierrez, respectively, on a joint and several basis; $1,256,372 against Maria de Lourdes Tolentino Roque; $242,080 against Diayanira Rendon Trejo; $313,985 against Efren Quiroz Gardea; and $139,542 against Luis Quiroz Gardea. The Court also ordered Gutierrez to pay a civil penalty of $448,746.
The SEC's litigation was led by Kristen Warden and was supervised by Melissa Armstrong and Tim England.
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Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26595.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26595
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V. et. al, No. 3:23-cv-00353 (W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023)
On July 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas entered a final judgment as to Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V., its CEO Armando Gutierrez Rosas, and four individuals in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme that raised millions from retail investors ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:23-cv-00353; W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023): * * * Securities and Exchange Commission v. Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V. et. al, No. 3:23-cv-00353 (W.D. Tex. filed Sept. 21, 2023) On July 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas entered a final judgment as to Aras Investment Business Group S.A.P.I. de C.V., its CEO Armando Gutierrez Rosas, and four individuals in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme that raised millions from retail investorsin the U.S., most of whom were members of the Mexican American community.
The SEC's complaint, filed on September 21, 2023, alleged that, from about March 2020 through November 2021, Gutierrez raised money from investors for the purported purpose of investing in U.S. real estate and mining operations in Mexico, promising investors monthly returns as high as 10 percent. According to the complaint, no investor funds were used for investment purposes; instead, Gutierrez was operating a Ponzi scheme and affinity fraud and used investor funds to pay for his personal expenses including a $2.5 million mansion in Texas.
The SEC charged Aras and Gutierrez with violating Sections 5 and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. It also charged Gutierrez with control person liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and charged the four individuals with various violations of the federal securities laws, including aiding and abetting Aras's and Gutierrez's violations of the antifraud provisions.
On September 25, 2023, the Court entered consent judgments as to the four individuals, which enjoined them from future violations of the charged provisions. On November 5, 2025, the Court entered a default judgment as to liability against Aras and Gutierrez.
The final judgment ordered the defendants liable for disgorgement with prejudgment interest in the following amounts: $448,746 and $129,614 against Aras and Gutierrez, respectively, on a joint and several basis; $1,256,372 against Maria de Lourdes Tolentino Roque; $242,080 against Diayanira Rendon Trejo; $313,985 against Efren Quiroz Gardea; and $139,542 against Luis Quiroz Gardea. The Court also ordered Gutierrez to pay a civil penalty of $448,746.
The SEC's litigation was led by Kristen Warden and was supervised by Melissa Armstrong and Tim England.
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Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26595.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26595
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Interconnected VoIP Numbering Authorization Application Filed by ActionVox Pursuant to Sec. 52.15(g)(3) of Commission's Rules
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 25-203):
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on a Numbering Authorization Application (Application) filed by ActionVox, Inc. (ActionVox or Applicant), an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3) of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, seeking authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers directly from the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 25-203): * * * By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on a Numbering Authorization Application (Application) filed by ActionVox, Inc. (ActionVox or Applicant), an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3) of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, seeking authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers directly from theNumbering Administrator./2 In its Application, ActionVox seeks authority to access numbering resources throughout the United States and intends to initially request numbers in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and New York./3
ActionVox includes the contact information and acknowledgments required by section 52.15(g)(3)(i) of the Commission's rules. ActionVox provides evidence that it will be capable of providing service within 60 days of the numbering resources activation date. ActionVox also certifies that it complies with the contribution, regulatory fee, and 911 obligations. In addition, ActionVox certifies that it has the financial, managerial, and technical expertise to provide reliable service. ActionVox further certifies that none of its key management and technical personnel are being or have been investigated by the Federal Communications Commission, or any law enforcement or regulatory agency, for failure to comply with any law, rule, or order.
ActionVox also certifies that it will not use the numbers obtained pursuant to the authorization for illegal robocalling, illegal spoofing, or otherwise fraudulent purposes. ActionVox certifies that it has fully complied with all applicable STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication and robocall mitigation program requirements. ActionVox certifies that it complies with the Commission's Access Stimulation rules and asserts it is compliant with FCC Form 499 and FCC Form 477 filing requirements. ActionVox makes the necessary ownership disclosures and certifications as required under 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 63.18(h) and (i). Finally, ActionVox makes a declaration under penalty of perjury that all statements in the application and any appendices are true and accurate.
Pursuant to 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(v)(E), the Bureau finds that ActionVox's application for authorization for direct access to telephone numbers requires further analysis to determine whether granting the Application will serve the public interest, and hereby notifies ActionVox that the Application is being accepted on a non-streamlined basis and will not be granted automatically./4
The Bureau makes this finding based on evidence suggesting that ActionVox has, or has had, ties to companies that have been linked by the Commission to illegal robocalling campaigns./5 In particular, ActionVox's public filings in Nevada show that in 2023, its president was Aashay Khandelwal, who was also the owner of One Owl Telecom Inc.,/6 a company subject to an Initial Determination Order in 2023 finding that it had originated and transmitted apparently illegal traffic, including scam calls./7 The Initial Determination Order also found that One Owl was itself linked to other bad actors that the Commission had previously shut down for originating illegal traffic, and that the company had been created to "deflect the FCC's scrutiny."/8 In addition, Allan Noorda, identified as the "President/Owner" of ActionVox in its most recent February 2026 Robocall Mitigation Plan, was hired as a consultant to One Owl in August 2023./9 Given ActionVox's links to companies that have apparently engaged in illegal robocalling and deceptive business practices, the Bureau finds that greater scrutiny of ActionVox's application is warranted.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Application identified herein has been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing as a non-streamlined application. The Commission reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission's rules and policies.
Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Commenters must serve a copy of comments on the Applicant no later than the above comment filing date.
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically by accessing ECFS at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
* Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.
* Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
* Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building.
* Commercial courier deliveries (any not sent by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
* Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
* People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
In addition, e-mail one copy of each pleading to each of the following:
1. DAA@fcc.gov;
2. Margoux Newman, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Margoux.Newman@fcc.gov;
3. Jordan Reth, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Jordan.Reth@fcc.gov;
4. Zach Ross, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Zachary.Ross@fcc.gov.
Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./10 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
To allow the Commission to consider fully all substantive issues regarding the application in as timely and efficient a manner as possible, petitioners and commenters should raise all issues in their initial filings. New issues may not be raised in responses or replies./11 A party or interested person seeking to raise a new issue after the pleading cycle has closed must show good cause why it was not possible for it to have raised the issue previously. Submissions after the pleading cycle has closed that seek to raise new issues based on new facts or newly discovered facts should be filed within 15 days after such facts are discovered. Absent such a showing of good cause, any issues not timely raised may be disregarded by the Commission.
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Footnotes:
1/ We assign WC Docket No. 25-203 for this application and all related filings by the Applicant and interested parties. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Commencement Date and Process for Interconnected VoIP Providers to File Applications for Authorization to Obtain Telephone Numbers, Public Notice, 31 FCC Rcd 949, 950 (WCB 2016); see Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., WC Docket No. 13-97 et al., Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 38 FCC Rcd 8951 (2023) (updating the authorization process).
2/ See Application of ActionVox, Inc. for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed June 17, 2025), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/1061778725136 (Application); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Oct. 1, 2025), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/100197069923 (Supplement 1); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Jan. 7, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10107016097100 (Supplement 2); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Mar. 26, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10326161411434 (Supplement 3); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Apr. 20, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/searchfilings/filing/10420035553934 (Supplement 4); see also 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3).
3/ See Application at 1; see also Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 6839, 6850, para. 24 & n.74 (2015).
4/ See 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(v) (providing that an application may receive non-streamlined processing if, (1) an applicant fails to respond promptly to Commission inquiries; (2) an application is associated with a non-routine request for waiver of the Commission's rules; (3) an applicant would, on its face, violate a Commission rule; (4) timely filed comments on the application raise public interest concerns that require further Commission review; or (5) the Bureau determines that the application requires further analysis to determine whether granting the application serves the public interest); see also 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(vii)(D).
5/ Response to Subpoena, from One Owl Telecom Inc., to Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (Dec. 13, 2023) (Subpoena Response) (on file in EB-TCD-23-00035574).
6/ This filing can be found by searching ActionVox's entity number (E33383142023-4) on Nevada's business portal, SilverFlume, and is kept on file in EB-TCD-23-00035574. See also Subpoena Response at 1.
7/ See One Owl Telecom Inc., EB Docket No. 22-174, Order, 38 FCC Rcd 8454 (EB 2023) (Initial Determination Order).
8/ Id. at 8457, para 7.
9/ See Subpoena Response at 1.
10/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
11/ See 47 CFR Sec. 1.45(c) (providing, inter alia, that a party filing a pleading "may reply to oppositions within 5 days after the time for filing oppositions has expired").
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-771A1.pdf
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on a Numbering Authorization Application (Application) filed by ActionVox, Inc. (ActionVox or Applicant), an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3) of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, seeking authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers directly from the ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 25-203): * * * By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on a Numbering Authorization Application (Application) filed by ActionVox, Inc. (ActionVox or Applicant), an interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, pursuant to section 52.15(g)(3) of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, seeking authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers directly from theNumbering Administrator./2 In its Application, ActionVox seeks authority to access numbering resources throughout the United States and intends to initially request numbers in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and New York./3
ActionVox includes the contact information and acknowledgments required by section 52.15(g)(3)(i) of the Commission's rules. ActionVox provides evidence that it will be capable of providing service within 60 days of the numbering resources activation date. ActionVox also certifies that it complies with the contribution, regulatory fee, and 911 obligations. In addition, ActionVox certifies that it has the financial, managerial, and technical expertise to provide reliable service. ActionVox further certifies that none of its key management and technical personnel are being or have been investigated by the Federal Communications Commission, or any law enforcement or regulatory agency, for failure to comply with any law, rule, or order.
ActionVox also certifies that it will not use the numbers obtained pursuant to the authorization for illegal robocalling, illegal spoofing, or otherwise fraudulent purposes. ActionVox certifies that it has fully complied with all applicable STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication and robocall mitigation program requirements. ActionVox certifies that it complies with the Commission's Access Stimulation rules and asserts it is compliant with FCC Form 499 and FCC Form 477 filing requirements. ActionVox makes the necessary ownership disclosures and certifications as required under 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 63.18(h) and (i). Finally, ActionVox makes a declaration under penalty of perjury that all statements in the application and any appendices are true and accurate.
Pursuant to 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(v)(E), the Bureau finds that ActionVox's application for authorization for direct access to telephone numbers requires further analysis to determine whether granting the Application will serve the public interest, and hereby notifies ActionVox that the Application is being accepted on a non-streamlined basis and will not be granted automatically./4
The Bureau makes this finding based on evidence suggesting that ActionVox has, or has had, ties to companies that have been linked by the Commission to illegal robocalling campaigns./5 In particular, ActionVox's public filings in Nevada show that in 2023, its president was Aashay Khandelwal, who was also the owner of One Owl Telecom Inc.,/6 a company subject to an Initial Determination Order in 2023 finding that it had originated and transmitted apparently illegal traffic, including scam calls./7 The Initial Determination Order also found that One Owl was itself linked to other bad actors that the Commission had previously shut down for originating illegal traffic, and that the company had been created to "deflect the FCC's scrutiny."/8 In addition, Allan Noorda, identified as the "President/Owner" of ActionVox in its most recent February 2026 Robocall Mitigation Plan, was hired as a consultant to One Owl in August 2023./9 Given ActionVox's links to companies that have apparently engaged in illegal robocalling and deceptive business practices, the Bureau finds that greater scrutiny of ActionVox's application is warranted.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Application identified herein has been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing as a non-streamlined application. The Commission reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission's rules and policies.
Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Commenters must serve a copy of comments on the Applicant no later than the above comment filing date.
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically by accessing ECFS at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
* Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.
* Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
* Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building.
* Commercial courier deliveries (any not sent by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
* Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
* People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
In addition, e-mail one copy of each pleading to each of the following:
1. DAA@fcc.gov;
2. Margoux Newman, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Margoux.Newman@fcc.gov;
3. Jordan Reth, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Jordan.Reth@fcc.gov;
4. Zach Ross, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Zachary.Ross@fcc.gov.
Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./10 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
To allow the Commission to consider fully all substantive issues regarding the application in as timely and efficient a manner as possible, petitioners and commenters should raise all issues in their initial filings. New issues may not be raised in responses or replies./11 A party or interested person seeking to raise a new issue after the pleading cycle has closed must show good cause why it was not possible for it to have raised the issue previously. Submissions after the pleading cycle has closed that seek to raise new issues based on new facts or newly discovered facts should be filed within 15 days after such facts are discovered. Absent such a showing of good cause, any issues not timely raised may be disregarded by the Commission.
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Footnotes:
1/ We assign WC Docket No. 25-203 for this application and all related filings by the Applicant and interested parties. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Commencement Date and Process for Interconnected VoIP Providers to File Applications for Authorization to Obtain Telephone Numbers, Public Notice, 31 FCC Rcd 949, 950 (WCB 2016); see Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., WC Docket No. 13-97 et al., Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 38 FCC Rcd 8951 (2023) (updating the authorization process).
2/ See Application of ActionVox, Inc. for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed June 17, 2025), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/1061778725136 (Application); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Oct. 1, 2025), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/100197069923 (Supplement 1); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Jan. 7, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10107016097100 (Supplement 2); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Mar. 26, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10326161411434 (Supplement 3); Supplement to the Application of ActionVox, Inc for Authorization to Obtain Numbering Resources, WC Docket No. 25-203 (filed Apr. 20, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/searchfilings/filing/10420035553934 (Supplement 4); see also 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3).
3/ See Application at 1; see also Numbering Policies for Modern Communications et al., Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 6839, 6850, para. 24 & n.74 (2015).
4/ See 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(v) (providing that an application may receive non-streamlined processing if, (1) an applicant fails to respond promptly to Commission inquiries; (2) an application is associated with a non-routine request for waiver of the Commission's rules; (3) an applicant would, on its face, violate a Commission rule; (4) timely filed comments on the application raise public interest concerns that require further Commission review; or (5) the Bureau determines that the application requires further analysis to determine whether granting the application serves the public interest); see also 47 CFR Sec. 52.15(g)(3)(vii)(D).
5/ Response to Subpoena, from One Owl Telecom Inc., to Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission (Dec. 13, 2023) (Subpoena Response) (on file in EB-TCD-23-00035574).
6/ This filing can be found by searching ActionVox's entity number (E33383142023-4) on Nevada's business portal, SilverFlume, and is kept on file in EB-TCD-23-00035574. See also Subpoena Response at 1.
7/ See One Owl Telecom Inc., EB Docket No. 22-174, Order, 38 FCC Rcd 8454 (EB 2023) (Initial Determination Order).
8/ Id. at 8457, para 7.
9/ See Subpoena Response at 1.
10/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
11/ See 47 CFR Sec. 1.45(c) (providing, inter alia, that a party filing a pleading "may reply to oppositions within 5 days after the time for filing oppositions has expired").
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-771A1.pdf
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice: Conditional Approval, Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft System, Routers From FCC Covered List
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 18-89, ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No. 21-233):
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The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted Communications ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 18-89, ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No. 21-233): * * * The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted CommunicationsNetworks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act)/2 and sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules,/3 PSHSB announces that the Department of War (DoW) has granted Conditional Approvals for a certain uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and routers. Therefore, such devices are exempt from the Covered List.
Additions of UAS and UAS Critical Components, and Routers to the Covered List:
UAS and UAS Critical Components. On December 22, 2025, PSHSB issued a Public Notice adding all UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country to the Covered List./4 This action was based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons. In that Public Notice, we stated, "[i]f we receive a further specific determination from the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security that a given UAS, class of UAS, or UAS critical component does not pose unacceptable risks, we will further update the Covered List."/5
In January 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determinations that, until January 1, 2027, UAS and UAS critical components included on DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List and UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as "domestic end products" under the Buy American Standard do not pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons./6 In March 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect the first Conditional Approvals that the FCC received from the DoW, exempting specific UAS and UAS critical components "which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS" from the Covered List./7 Additionally, on June 15, 2026, based on a National Security Determination from DoW, PSHSB updated the Covered List to exempt "Toy Drones" as defined in the National Security Determination and "Toy Drones that contain foreign-produced components."/8
On July 21, 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determination that extended timelines for the exemption of UAS and UAS critical components included on DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List and UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as "domestic end products" under the Buy American Standard to January 1, 2028./9 We also updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determination that Conditional Approvals for foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components will not terminate on December 31, 2026, so long as the applicant complies with its approved onshoring plan and updated vetting of the products./10 Additionally, under DoW's determination, a Conditional Approval will terminate--and the device will be restored to the Covered List--if the applicant fails to adhere to the onshoring plan or if the U.S. Government discovers any false statements or misrepresentations in the application./11
Routers. On March 23, 2026, the Commission added to the Covered List "routers produced in a foreign country, except routers which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS."/12 This addition was based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that routers produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons./13
Conditional Approvals:
The Executive Branch interagency body established a process by which entities producing UAS and UAS critical components and routers in foreign countries can request DoW or the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate whether such devices do not pose unacceptable risks to national security and receive Conditional Approvals that would exempt such devices from the Covered List. The Commission has updated the Covered List to reflect the Conditional Approvals that we have received from the DoW exempting certain UAS and routers from the Covered List./14
DoW has reviewed submissions and granted Conditional Approvals for the following devices, which are the subject of this Public Notice:
* Exedy Globalparts Corporation's Ayre CX uncrewed aircraft system
* Parallel Flight Technologies, Inc.'s Firefly uncrewed aircraft system
* Calix, Inc.'s (Calix) GigaSpire class routers (including 7u6m.2, 7u4txg, 7u4, 7u6.2) and Giga Pro (7p6) (terminating November 22, 2027)
- PSHSB previously updated the Covered List to reflect that specific Calix routers received Conditional Approvals and were therefore exempted from the Covered List./15 The present Conditional Approval addresses the entire product class, including the previous models that received Conditional Approval.
* Sagemcom USA, LLC's (Sagemcom) "FAST" Broadband Class of Gateways and Routers (including FAST3994, FAST3897, FAST5698, FAST5699, FAST5999) (terminating December 5, 2027)
- PSHSB previously updated the Covered List to reflect that specific Sagemcom routers received Conditional Approvals and were therefore exempted from the Covered List./16 The present Conditional Approval addresses the entire "FAST" Broadband Class of Gateways and Routers, including the previous models that received Conditional Approval.
* Humax Networks USA, Inc.'s HNR2306 and HNRM30 routers (terminating January 17, 2028)
* Askey Computer Corp.'s ASK-NCM300 and ASK-NCQ8000 (Wi-Fi 8 Gateways) (terminating January 17, 2028)
The Covered List:
We find that each of the Conditional Approvals constitutes "a specific determination" by DoW that such devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security./17 Therefore, we conclude that PSHSB is required to update the Covered List to exclude the equipment identified in these Conditional Approvals.
PSHSB takes this action under its authority and obligation to publish and maintain the Covered List. Sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules require PSHSB to publish the Covered List on the Commission's website, to maintain and update the Covered List, and to monitor the status of determinations./18
The Covered List and the list of devices that have received Conditional Approvals are attached as Appendices A and B to this Public Notice and can also be found on the Bureau's website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist./19
We note the continued availability of FCC staff guidance pursuant to sections 0.191 and 0.31(i) of the Commission's rules. Commission staff will provide guidance to TCBs, test labs, and equipment authorization applicants on the impact of these updates.
For further information, please contact Matthew Chai, Attorney Advisor, at (202) 418-1112 or Matthew.chai@fcc.gov or Rebecca Clinton, Deputy Chief, Legal, at 202-418-7815 or Rebecca.Clinton@fcc.gov, Operations and Emergency Management Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
* * *
Footnotes:
1/ Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-124, 133 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 1601-1609) (Secure Networks Act); 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002, 1.50003. For the current version of the Covered List, see Federal Communications Commission, List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act, https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist (last updated Apr. 14, 2026).
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 1601.
3/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003; see also Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 14284 (2020) (Supply Chain Second Report and Order).
4/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Addition of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components Produced Abroad, and Equipment and Services Listed in Section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA, to FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 25-1086 (Dec 22, 2025) (UAS Public Notice).
5/ UAS Public Notice at 3.
6/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-22 (Jan. 7, 2026) (Second UAS Public Notice).
7/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components and Exemption from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-253 (Mar. 18, 2026).
8/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces that "Toy Drones" and "Toy Drones that Contain Foreign-Produced Components" are Removed from the FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-588 (Jun. 15, 2026).
9/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Extension of Conditional Approvals and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components from FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-761 (Jul. 21, 2026) (UAS Extension Public Notice).
10/ UAS Extension Public Notice at 2.
11/ UAS Extension Public Notice at 2.
12/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Addition of Routers Produced in Foreign Countries to FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-278 (Mar. 23, 2026) (Routers Public Notice).
13/ Routers Public Notice at 2.
14/ See, e.g., FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval of Certain Routers and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Exemption from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA-26-351 (April 14, 2026). The list of devices that have received Conditional Approvals can be found on the Bureau's website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist.
15/ See FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-542 (Jun. 1, 2026); FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-437 (May. 6, 2026).
16/ See FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-548 (Jun. 4, 2026).
17/ See Routers Public Notice, Appx. C; Second UAS Public Notice, Appx. B.
18/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003. See Supply Chain Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 14319, 14325, paras. 72, 77, 92.
19/ The FCC website also contains a list of certain affiliates and subsidiaries of entities identified on the Covered List. The list of affiliates and subsidiaries does not constitute a comprehensive list of all entities that the Commission may find, upon further examination, to qualify as relevant subsidiaries or affiliates of entities on the Covered List. Those entities, whether or not they currently provide covered communications equipment or services, are subject to the Commission's prohibitions, such as the prohibition against obtaining authorizations for covered equipment. See Reminder: Communications Equipment And Services On The Covered List Pose An Unacceptable Risk To National Security, National Security Advisory No. 2025-01, DA 25-927, n.3 (PSHSB Oct. 14, 2025).
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Original text plus appendix here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-768A1.pdf
* * *
The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted Communications ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 18-89, ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No. 21-233): * * * The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted CommunicationsNetworks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act)/2 and sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules,/3 PSHSB announces that the Department of War (DoW) has granted Conditional Approvals for a certain uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and routers. Therefore, such devices are exempt from the Covered List.
Additions of UAS and UAS Critical Components, and Routers to the Covered List:
UAS and UAS Critical Components. On December 22, 2025, PSHSB issued a Public Notice adding all UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country to the Covered List./4 This action was based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons. In that Public Notice, we stated, "[i]f we receive a further specific determination from the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security that a given UAS, class of UAS, or UAS critical component does not pose unacceptable risks, we will further update the Covered List."/5
In January 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determinations that, until January 1, 2027, UAS and UAS critical components included on DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List and UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as "domestic end products" under the Buy American Standard do not pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons./6 In March 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect the first Conditional Approvals that the FCC received from the DoW, exempting specific UAS and UAS critical components "which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS" from the Covered List./7 Additionally, on June 15, 2026, based on a National Security Determination from DoW, PSHSB updated the Covered List to exempt "Toy Drones" as defined in the National Security Determination and "Toy Drones that contain foreign-produced components."/8
On July 21, 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determination that extended timelines for the exemption of UAS and UAS critical components included on DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List and UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as "domestic end products" under the Buy American Standard to January 1, 2028./9 We also updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determination that Conditional Approvals for foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components will not terminate on December 31, 2026, so long as the applicant complies with its approved onshoring plan and updated vetting of the products./10 Additionally, under DoW's determination, a Conditional Approval will terminate--and the device will be restored to the Covered List--if the applicant fails to adhere to the onshoring plan or if the U.S. Government discovers any false statements or misrepresentations in the application./11
Routers. On March 23, 2026, the Commission added to the Covered List "routers produced in a foreign country, except routers which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS."/12 This addition was based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that routers produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons./13
Conditional Approvals:
The Executive Branch interagency body established a process by which entities producing UAS and UAS critical components and routers in foreign countries can request DoW or the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate whether such devices do not pose unacceptable risks to national security and receive Conditional Approvals that would exempt such devices from the Covered List. The Commission has updated the Covered List to reflect the Conditional Approvals that we have received from the DoW exempting certain UAS and routers from the Covered List./14
DoW has reviewed submissions and granted Conditional Approvals for the following devices, which are the subject of this Public Notice:
* Exedy Globalparts Corporation's Ayre CX uncrewed aircraft system
* Parallel Flight Technologies, Inc.'s Firefly uncrewed aircraft system
* Calix, Inc.'s (Calix) GigaSpire class routers (including 7u6m.2, 7u4txg, 7u4, 7u6.2) and Giga Pro (7p6) (terminating November 22, 2027)
- PSHSB previously updated the Covered List to reflect that specific Calix routers received Conditional Approvals and were therefore exempted from the Covered List./15 The present Conditional Approval addresses the entire product class, including the previous models that received Conditional Approval.
* Sagemcom USA, LLC's (Sagemcom) "FAST" Broadband Class of Gateways and Routers (including FAST3994, FAST3897, FAST5698, FAST5699, FAST5999) (terminating December 5, 2027)
- PSHSB previously updated the Covered List to reflect that specific Sagemcom routers received Conditional Approvals and were therefore exempted from the Covered List./16 The present Conditional Approval addresses the entire "FAST" Broadband Class of Gateways and Routers, including the previous models that received Conditional Approval.
* Humax Networks USA, Inc.'s HNR2306 and HNRM30 routers (terminating January 17, 2028)
* Askey Computer Corp.'s ASK-NCM300 and ASK-NCQ8000 (Wi-Fi 8 Gateways) (terminating January 17, 2028)
The Covered List:
We find that each of the Conditional Approvals constitutes "a specific determination" by DoW that such devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security./17 Therefore, we conclude that PSHSB is required to update the Covered List to exclude the equipment identified in these Conditional Approvals.
PSHSB takes this action under its authority and obligation to publish and maintain the Covered List. Sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules require PSHSB to publish the Covered List on the Commission's website, to maintain and update the Covered List, and to monitor the status of determinations./18
The Covered List and the list of devices that have received Conditional Approvals are attached as Appendices A and B to this Public Notice and can also be found on the Bureau's website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist./19
We note the continued availability of FCC staff guidance pursuant to sections 0.191 and 0.31(i) of the Commission's rules. Commission staff will provide guidance to TCBs, test labs, and equipment authorization applicants on the impact of these updates.
For further information, please contact Matthew Chai, Attorney Advisor, at (202) 418-1112 or Matthew.chai@fcc.gov or Rebecca Clinton, Deputy Chief, Legal, at 202-418-7815 or Rebecca.Clinton@fcc.gov, Operations and Emergency Management Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
* * *
Footnotes:
1/ Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-124, 133 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 1601-1609) (Secure Networks Act); 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002, 1.50003. For the current version of the Covered List, see Federal Communications Commission, List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act, https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist (last updated Apr. 14, 2026).
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 1601.
3/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003; see also Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 14284 (2020) (Supply Chain Second Report and Order).
4/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Addition of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components Produced Abroad, and Equipment and Services Listed in Section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA, to FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 25-1086 (Dec 22, 2025) (UAS Public Notice).
5/ UAS Public Notice at 3.
6/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-22 (Jan. 7, 2026) (Second UAS Public Notice).
7/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components and Exemption from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-253 (Mar. 18, 2026).
8/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces that "Toy Drones" and "Toy Drones that Contain Foreign-Produced Components" are Removed from the FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-588 (Jun. 15, 2026).
9/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Extension of Conditional Approvals and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components from FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-761 (Jul. 21, 2026) (UAS Extension Public Notice).
10/ UAS Extension Public Notice at 2.
11/ UAS Extension Public Notice at 2.
12/ FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Addition of Routers Produced in Foreign Countries to FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-278 (Mar. 23, 2026) (Routers Public Notice).
13/ Routers Public Notice at 2.
14/ See, e.g., FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval of Certain Routers and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Exemption from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA-26-351 (April 14, 2026). The list of devices that have received Conditional Approvals can be found on the Bureau's website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist.
15/ See FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-542 (Jun. 1, 2026); FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-437 (May. 6, 2026).
16/ See FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval and Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Routers from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-548 (Jun. 4, 2026).
17/ See Routers Public Notice, Appx. C; Second UAS Public Notice, Appx. B.
18/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003. See Supply Chain Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 14319, 14325, paras. 72, 77, 92.
19/ The FCC website also contains a list of certain affiliates and subsidiaries of entities identified on the Covered List. The list of affiliates and subsidiaries does not constitute a comprehensive list of all entities that the Commission may find, upon further examination, to qualify as relevant subsidiaries or affiliates of entities on the Covered List. Those entities, whether or not they currently provide covered communications equipment or services, are subject to the Commission's prohibitions, such as the prohibition against obtaining authorizations for covered equipment. See Reminder: Communications Equipment And Services On The Covered List Pose An Unacceptable Risk To National Security, National Security Advisory No. 2025-01, DA 25-927, n.3 (PSHSB Oct. 14, 2025).
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Original text plus appendix here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-768A1.pdf
FCC Approves 160 MHz of Upper C-Band Spectrum for 5G Auction
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order expanding flexible use of the Upper C-band spectrum, titled Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band (GN Docket No. 25-59; GN Docket No. 18-122), on July 22, 2026, clearing the way for a spectrum auction that could reshape mobile broadband capacity across the country.
The order directs the Commission to auction licenses covering 160 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.14 GHz range, exceeding the 100-megahertz floor set by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That law restored ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order expanding flexible use of the Upper C-band spectrum, titled Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band (GN Docket No. 25-59; GN Docket No. 18-122), on July 22, 2026, clearing the way for a spectrum auction that could reshape mobile broadband capacity across the country. The order directs the Commission to auction licenses covering 160 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.14 GHz range, exceeding the 100-megahertz floor set by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That law restoredthe agency's general auction authority and required licenses in the band to be granted through competitive bidding no later than July 4, 2027.
Once completed, the auctioned spectrum will merge with the Lower C-band (3.7-3.98 GHz) to create a single, unified 3.7 GHz Service spanning 440 contiguous megahertz of mid-band spectrum, according to the order. Commissioners cited billions of dollars in prior wireless investment tied to the Lower C-band rollout and projected that further mid-band spectrum could generate as much as $264 billion in gross domestic product growth, 1.5 million jobs, and $388 billion in consumer surplus.
To free the band, the agency will require incoming licensees to reimburse eligible satellite operators for relocation costs tied to clearing Fixed Satellite Service operations out of the reconfigured spectrum, mirroring the framework used in the earlier Lower C-band transition. A 20-megahertz guard band will separate wireless operations from remaining satellite downlink activity, and the agency is establishing rebates to help aircraft owners retrofit radio altimeters, ensuring continued coexistence with aviation safety systems operating in the adjacent 4.2-4.4 GHz band.
The order sets an unpaired 20-megahertz block structure, geographic licensing by Partial Economic Area, and bidding credits of 15% for qualifying small businesses and rural service providers, and 25% for very small businesses, aligning bidding rules with those already applied to the Lower C-band. The Commission declined to expand the auction outside the contiguous United States and rejected proposals for a Tribal licensing window or a separate rural spectrum reserve, citing timing constraints tied to the statutory deadline.
Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty issued separate statements, while Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented in part.
The auction must conclude by July 4, 2027, under the statutory deadline established by Congress.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-46A1.pdf
The order directs the Commission to auction licenses covering 160 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.14 GHz range, exceeding the 100-megahertz floor set by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That law restored ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order expanding flexible use of the Upper C-band spectrum, titled Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band (GN Docket No. 25-59; GN Docket No. 18-122), on July 22, 2026, clearing the way for a spectrum auction that could reshape mobile broadband capacity across the country. The order directs the Commission to auction licenses covering 160 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.14 GHz range, exceeding the 100-megahertz floor set by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That law restoredthe agency's general auction authority and required licenses in the band to be granted through competitive bidding no later than July 4, 2027.
Once completed, the auctioned spectrum will merge with the Lower C-band (3.7-3.98 GHz) to create a single, unified 3.7 GHz Service spanning 440 contiguous megahertz of mid-band spectrum, according to the order. Commissioners cited billions of dollars in prior wireless investment tied to the Lower C-band rollout and projected that further mid-band spectrum could generate as much as $264 billion in gross domestic product growth, 1.5 million jobs, and $388 billion in consumer surplus.
To free the band, the agency will require incoming licensees to reimburse eligible satellite operators for relocation costs tied to clearing Fixed Satellite Service operations out of the reconfigured spectrum, mirroring the framework used in the earlier Lower C-band transition. A 20-megahertz guard band will separate wireless operations from remaining satellite downlink activity, and the agency is establishing rebates to help aircraft owners retrofit radio altimeters, ensuring continued coexistence with aviation safety systems operating in the adjacent 4.2-4.4 GHz band.
The order sets an unpaired 20-megahertz block structure, geographic licensing by Partial Economic Area, and bidding credits of 15% for qualifying small businesses and rural service providers, and 25% for very small businesses, aligning bidding rules with those already applied to the Lower C-band. The Commission declined to expand the auction outside the contiguous United States and rejected proposals for a Tribal licensing window or a separate rural spectrum reserve, citing timing constraints tied to the statutory deadline.
Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty issued separate statements, while Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented in part.
The auction must conclude by July 4, 2027, under the statutory deadline established by Congress.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-46A1.pdf
BAXTER ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF CEFAZOLIN IN DEXTROSE INJECTION, USP, 2G / 100ML SINGLE-DOSE INFUSION BAG IN 100ML DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SOLUTION
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice:
* * *
BAXTER ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF CEFAZOLIN IN DEXTROSE INJECTION, USP, 2G / 100ML (20MG / ML) SINGLE-DOSE INFUSION BAG IN 100ML DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SOLUTION
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 24, 2026
FDA Publish Date: July 24, 2026
Product Type: Drugs
Reason for Announcement: Particulate matter (cardboard) found in the solution.
Company Name: Baxter International Inc.
Brand Name: Baxter
Product Description: Cefazolin ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * BAXTER ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF CEFAZOLIN IN DEXTROSE INJECTION, USP, 2G / 100ML (20MG / ML) SINGLE-DOSE INFUSION BAG IN 100ML DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SOLUTION Summary Company Announcement Date: July 24, 2026 FDA Publish Date: July 24, 2026 Product Type: Drugs Reason for Announcement: Particulate matter (cardboard) found in the solution. Company Name: Baxter International Inc. Brand Name: Baxter Product Description: Cefazolinin Dextrose Injection
Company Announcement
DEERFIELD, Ill., Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is voluntarily recalling Lot LD175708, Exp 14-Feb 2027 of Cefazolin in Dextrose Injection due to a report of particulate matter found in the solution identified as cardboard.
Risk Statement: The use of the defective product has a reasonable probability of causing pulmonary emboli (blockage in pulmonary blood vessels), occlusions of other blood vessels (which can lead to tissue death and possible organ damage), and/or phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of veins, which may lead to clotting). Systemically, foreign particles infused intravenously can cause systemic activation of the immune system, organ dysfunction, and hemolysis (breakdown of blood cells). To date, Baxter has not received any reports of adverse events related to this issue.
Affected Product:
This product is used intravenously to treat bacterial infections or prevent them during surgery
Product Code ... Product Description ... Lot Number ... Expiration Date ... NDC Number
2G3508 ... Cefazolin in Dextrose Injection, USP, 2g / 100mL (20mg / mL) Single-Dose Infusion Bag in 100mL GALAXY Plastic Container, Frozen Premix ... LD175708 ... 14-Feb-2027 ... 0338-3508-41
The affected lots can be identified by locating the lot number and expiration date on the front of the product package and the label attached to the carton, as shown in the images below.
The impacted product was distributed from 3/25/2025 to 6/30/2025 in the United States.
Customers should immediately discontinue use of and return all affected units in accordance with their facility's process. Baxter is contacting customers with instructions on how to identify and return the impacted product.
For general questions regarding this communication, please contact Baxter Healthcare Center for Service at 888-229-0001 between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
* Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
* Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been notified of this action.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/baxter-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-cefazolin-dextrose-injection-usp-2g-100ml-20mg-ml-single
* * *
BAXTER ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF CEFAZOLIN IN DEXTROSE INJECTION, USP, 2G / 100ML (20MG / ML) SINGLE-DOSE INFUSION BAG IN 100ML DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SOLUTION
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 24, 2026
FDA Publish Date: July 24, 2026
Product Type: Drugs
Reason for Announcement: Particulate matter (cardboard) found in the solution.
Company Name: Baxter International Inc.
Brand Name: Baxter
Product Description: Cefazolin ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following recall notice: * * * BAXTER ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF CEFAZOLIN IN DEXTROSE INJECTION, USP, 2G / 100ML (20MG / ML) SINGLE-DOSE INFUSION BAG IN 100ML DUE TO PARTICULATE MATTER FOUND IN SOLUTION Summary Company Announcement Date: July 24, 2026 FDA Publish Date: July 24, 2026 Product Type: Drugs Reason for Announcement: Particulate matter (cardboard) found in the solution. Company Name: Baxter International Inc. Brand Name: Baxter Product Description: Cefazolinin Dextrose Injection
Company Announcement
DEERFIELD, Ill., Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is voluntarily recalling Lot LD175708, Exp 14-Feb 2027 of Cefazolin in Dextrose Injection due to a report of particulate matter found in the solution identified as cardboard.
Risk Statement: The use of the defective product has a reasonable probability of causing pulmonary emboli (blockage in pulmonary blood vessels), occlusions of other blood vessels (which can lead to tissue death and possible organ damage), and/or phlebitis (inflammation of the walls of veins, which may lead to clotting). Systemically, foreign particles infused intravenously can cause systemic activation of the immune system, organ dysfunction, and hemolysis (breakdown of blood cells). To date, Baxter has not received any reports of adverse events related to this issue.
Affected Product:
This product is used intravenously to treat bacterial infections or prevent them during surgery
Product Code ... Product Description ... Lot Number ... Expiration Date ... NDC Number
2G3508 ... Cefazolin in Dextrose Injection, USP, 2g / 100mL (20mg / mL) Single-Dose Infusion Bag in 100mL GALAXY Plastic Container, Frozen Premix ... LD175708 ... 14-Feb-2027 ... 0338-3508-41
The affected lots can be identified by locating the lot number and expiration date on the front of the product package and the label attached to the carton, as shown in the images below.
The impacted product was distributed from 3/25/2025 to 6/30/2025 in the United States.
Customers should immediately discontinue use of and return all affected units in accordance with their facility's process. Baxter is contacting customers with instructions on how to identify and return the impacted product.
For general questions regarding this communication, please contact Baxter Healthcare Center for Service at 888-229-0001 between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
* Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
* Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been notified of this action.
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Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/baxter-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-cefazolin-dextrose-injection-usp-2g-100ml-20mg-ml-single