U.S. Secretary of State: “No need for military action against Iran ... objectives can be achieved through economic pressure”

[Financial News] U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was no need for further large-scale military operations, as economic sanctions and a naval blockade against Iran were working successfully.
According to major international news outlets, including the Associated Press, Rubio told reporters after the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, France, on the 10th (local time): “The economic pressure currently being brought to bear on Iran is so devastating that large-scale combat operations are not needed right now.”

Asked whether refraining from military operations meant the situation was at a “stalemate,” Rubio ruled that out, saying, “If we can achieve the same objective through economic means and pressure, there is no need to launch military strikes.”
He pointed to Iran’s oil supply drying up under the U.S. naval blockade and warned, “Never in its history has Iran faced a situation where it is unable to sell energy on international markets as it is today. In two or three months, Iran’s situation will be worse than it is now.” He added that if Iran crossed the “red line,” it would pay a terrible price, and that U.S. forces were militarily prepared.
The remarks both reflect acceptance of European allies’ calls to avoid escalation and align with the recent shift in President Donald Trump’s tone. Unlike his warning of large-scale airstrikes ahead of the midterm elections, Trump said the previous day that “the war with Iran is effectively over militarily,” and had announced plans to hold off on further strikes in response to requests from Middle Eastern countries.

With military tensions easing somewhat, talks between the United States and Iran on ending the war and on nuclear issues are actively underway behind the scenes, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. The two countries are reportedly close to a preliminary agreement under which Iran would limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% and dilute its existing 60%-enriched uranium in exchange for the release of U.S. frozen assets and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio, however, dismissed Iran’s demand for war reparations, saying, “We will not pay. On the contrary, they should pay reparations for having destabilized the Middle East for so long,” as the verbal sparring continued.

Rubio also commented on the trilateral peace talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine, which resumed that day in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), after a nine-month hiatus.
He called the talks “very productive” and stressed, “What really matters is that the European side is at the table too.” The remarks were seen as an effort to reassure allies concerned that Europe could be excluded from the U.S.-led peace process. Rubio said, “We stand with Ukraine militarily and financially, and continue to pressure Russia through sanctions.”


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