‘Anachronism’: Rubio’s civilisational rhetoric prompts pushback from Iran

Tehran, Iran – A speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoking memories of ancient Persia has been met with coldness or disdain across the Iranian political spectrum amid Washington’s ongoing war on Iran.With the Acropolis in Athens as a backdrop, Rubio presented the United States, founded in the 18th century, as the inheritor of ancient Western civilisation running from Greece to Rome.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Are the US and Israel waging war on Iran’s cultural heritage?list 2 of 3How US, Israel are waging a war on Iranian culture, educationlist 3 of 3Why has Iraq decided to ban online map service Waze?end of listDuring the speech, he argued that modern-day Western countries have lost their confidence, weakened their industries and militaries, and need renewed ambition and power in the future.Referencing the ancient Greco-Persian Wars, he used the Persian destruction of Athens in 480 BC under King Xerxes I as an example of Western civilisation surviving an external enemy.“The Persians plundered the temples, burned the shrines and razed the Acropolis to the ground,” Rubio said. He subsequently hailed the return of the Athenians and the construction of the...