During his first public hearing since the onset of the Iran war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced intense questioning from lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding several pressing global issues. He defended the administration's stance on maintaining U.S. global dominance, asserting that the U.S. remains the world's sole superpower. A significant focus was on U.S.-China relations, particularly concerning arms sales to Taiwan. Senators expressed concern that negotiations with Beijing might delay these critical sales, which are essential for Taiwan's defense. Additionally, lawmakers raised alarms about U.S. preparedness for potential Ebola outbreaks, questioning whether recent funding cuts had hampered response efforts. Rubio countered these concerns by stating that reforms would enhance preparedness and confirmed that the U.S. would reengage with the Gavi vaccine alliance to secure necessary funding for combating outbreaks. On the Iran war, Rubio noted that Iran's leadership is willing to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program but emphasized that the U.S. would not lift sanctions without the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.