Washington DC, March 9 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday defended Washington's actions against Iran, describing the Iranian leadership as a "terroristic regime" and asserting that the United States aims to dismantle its ability to carry out strikes across the region as the conflict in West Asia escalates.

Speaking during the 'US Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag Raising' ceremony at the State Department, Rubio said Iran was using state resources to conduct acts of terrorism and that US actions were aimed at stopping such capabilities.

"This is a terrorist government. This is a terroristic regime and we are seeing them conduct terrorism using nation-state elements, using weapons like missiles and one-way attack drones," Rub...