Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US is not expected to launch new strikes on Iran.
- The US plans to focus on other means of pressure against Iran.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a significant round of economic sanctions against Iran.
- Rubio indicated the US is open to negotiations but believes Iran is not serious about talks.
- Rubio cited Israel's planned attack and the anticipated retaliation against US forces as reasons for pre-emptive US strikes.
- The stated US objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has conveyed to allied foreign ministers that the United States is not currently expected to launch further strikes against Iran, according to Axios. The focus will instead shift to alternative methods of exerting pressure on Tehran. This development follows US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement of extensive economic sanctions against Iran, described as an "economic D-Day."
Rubio has stated that the US is open to negotiations to end the conflict with Iran, but he accused Tehran of not being serious about peace talks. He emphasized that the US would "do what’s necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies" if Iran does not engage in good faith.
Rubio also voiced strong opposition to Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "dangerous precedent" that threatens freedom of navigation. He argued that Iran does not possess the legal right to control traffic through the international waterway and endanger ships.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz, a move Iran warned would be considered an "expansion of war" and could lead to strikes on "all the interests of America, its allies and supporters."
In a new explanation for the US entry into the conflict, Rubio stated that Israel's determination to attack Iran, coupled with the certainty that US forces would be targeted in response, compelled the Trump administration to conduct pre-emptive strikes. He explained that the administration knew Iran would retaliate against the US if attacked by anyone, and that pre-emptive action was necessary to avoid higher casualties. Rubio reiterated that the US objective is to ensure Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons.
The US and Israel have carried out numerous airstrikes across Iran, while Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks against US-aligned countries in the Middle East. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of several of Iran's top military and political leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US military has confirmed the deaths of six service members, and the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported over 500 civilian casualties.