by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington sees no immediate need to resume major combat operations against Iran, arguing that American sanctions and a naval blockade are inflicting severe economic damage on Tehran without additional military strikes.
Speaking to reporters following a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, Rubio said the Trump administration believes its economic pressure campaign is achieving objectives that might otherwise require military force.
“The economic campaign is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations,” Rubio said. “That’s what I told our allies here today.”
Rubio rejected suggestions that suspending military operations amounted to a stalemate, insisting that Iran’s worsening economic isolation was steadily weakening the regime.
“The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now is extraordinary and it compounds. It’s growing every day,” he said.
The secretary of state emphasized that Iran faces unprecedented restrictions on its ability to sell energy internationally, with U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade sharply limiting one of Tehran’s most important sources of revenue.
Trump Holds Off on Additional Strikes Following Qatar Talks
Rubio’s remarks followed President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he would temporarily hold off on additional strikes against Iran after consultations with regional leaders, including Qatar’s prime minister during White House discussions.
The administration maintains that economic pressure can achieve American objectives without immediately expanding the conflict, although military options remain available.
Rubio also indicated that Washington remains open to a negotiated agreement, while criticizing Tehran’s demands as unacceptable.
The shift comes amid growing political pressure in Washington following Republican losses in last week’s midterm elections. Trump has acknowledged that the Iran conflict contributed to the party’s electoral setbacks, while Vice President JD Vance has more directly attributed the losses to the war.
For now, Washington appears determined to maintain maximum economic pressure while leaving open the possibility of renewed military action should Iran cross American red lines.
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