Rubio Says U.S. Sees No Need for Major Combat Operations Against Iran as Sanctions Bite
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 allies in Paris that sanctions and a naval blockade are doing enough damage to Iran's economy that new large-scale strikes are unnecessary for now, while warning the military stands ready if Tehran crosses American red lines.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the United States sees no need for major combat operations against Iran for now, telling foreign ministers from the Group of Seven in Paris that sanctions and a naval blockade are putting enough pressure on Tehran.
“The economic campaign (against Iran) is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations,” Rubio said after two days of meetings with the G7 ministers. “We don’t need to conduct military strikes if we’re achieving the same objective through economic means and economic pressure. That’s not stalemate.”
Rubio said the pressure on Iran’s economy was growing by the day. “The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now is extraordinary and it compounds. It’s growing every day,” he said. “Never has Iran ever faced the inability to sell energy in the global market like they are today.”
The secretary of state said President Donald Trump had heard the same assessment from allies in the Middle East. On Monday, Trump said he planned to hold off on new military strikes against Iran for the time being after appeals from countries in the region, including from Qatar’s prime minister during White House talks.
Trump holds off new strikes
Rubio pushed back on the idea that pausing military action meant the campaign had stalled. He said the United States would keep tightening the blockade and sanctions, and he urged G7 allies to help protect shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, where he said U.S. forces would remain.
He also warned that Washington was still prepared to use force. If Iran crossed American red lines, Rubio said, the U.S. military stands ready and Tehran would pay what he called a terrible price.
Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran played a part in the Republicans’ defeat in last week’s midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance was more direct, saying, “The reason we lost is the war.”
Tehran says no talks are under way
Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, told Lebanese television on Tuesday that Iran was not currently conducting negotiations with the Americans. Tehran has said its offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days remains on the table if Washington agrees to conditions that include ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian assets, lifting oil sanctions and ending the U.S. counter-blockade of Iranian ports, according to AFP.
The war began on Feb. 28, when the United States attacked Iran and killed its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, according to AFP. Since then, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, the main exit route for Gulf energy exports, while Washington has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and AFP.
