WorldPosted at: Nov 11 2026 6:56PM


Rubio says US has no immediate need for major military operations against Iran, cites economic pressure

Washington, Nov 11 (UNI) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington currently sees no need for major military operations against Iran, arguing that an economic campaign involving sanctions and a naval blockade is inflicting severe damage on the Iranian economy.
Speaking to reporters after a G7 meeting, Rubio said the US strategy is proving effective and that the administration intended to maintain and intensify economic pressure on Tehran while remaining prepared for possible military action if Iran crosses unspecified red lines.
“At this point the economic campaign and the pressure and the devastation that our economic campaign is having on the Iranian regime is working so well that the President really doesn’t have any need to conduct major combat operations,” Rubio said.
He added that the US military remained ready to respond if necessary.“Obviously, if Iran crosses certain red lines, if their regime does certain things that should not happen... obviously the U.S. military, the most capable military in the world, stands ready to address it,” he said.
Rubio stressed that Washington's approach was not a return to the status quo, arguing that the economic consequences for Iran would become increasingly severe in the coming months.
“The economic pressure is going to get even worse,” he said, adding that sanctions were beginning to compound and would become more painful over time.
According to Rubio, Iran has only a limited amount of oil remaining in transit that escaped the blockade during an earlier ceasefire period. Once those supplies are exhausted, he said, much of the country's oil revenue could dry up.
“The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now and on that regime is extraordinary and it compounds. It's growing every day,” he said.
Rubio rejected suggestions that the situation amounted to a stalemate.“They're bleeding. They're bleeding economically,” he told reporters, arguing that the growing financial pressure was achieving US objectives without the need for additional military strikes.
He also warned that Iran would face serious consequences if it escalated attacks against neighbouring countries or commercial shipping.
“If Iran decides to escalate and they decide to initiate military action, I don't need to tell you what will happen as a result of it,” he said.
Despite the escalating economic pressure, Rubio said the United States remained willing to negotiate if Tehran demonstrated a genuine willingness to reach an agreement.
“Iran would love a deal. The problem is the conditions they continue to place are absurd,” he said.
He added that Washington would not accept an agreement that failed to protect American interests.
“If there's a real deal to be done, we're open. And there's countries out there that are engaged,” Rubio said, pointing to Qatar and other countries attempting to facilitate discussions.
“But it's not going to be a stupid deal. It's not going to be a bad deal.”
Rubio also rejected Iran's reported demands for reparations and financial concessions, insisting that Tehran should instead be held accountable for its role in regional instability.
On the nuclear issue, he said Iran could pursue a civilian nuclear energy programme similar to those of other countries, but argued that Tehran's broader activities required continued financial pressure.
Turning to Ukraine, Rubio described discussions in Abu Dhabi involving American, Ukrainian and Russian representatives as productive, while cautioning that a final agreement remained some distance away.
“It’s not like something that's on the verge of being solved in the next 24 hours or anything like that,” he said.
Rubio highlighted the participation of European representatives, saying Washington wanted European countries to become directly involved in the negotiating framework.
“Our goal at some point [is] to expand this trilateral, so it's not just the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia, but also that the Europeans be represented at that table directly with these talks,” he said.
He rejected suggestions of a fundamental disagreement between Washington and its European partners, saying both sides shared the objectives of ending the war and preventing another conflict.
“We want the war to end, and we want there never to be a war again,” Rubio said.
He added that European involvement was essential to securing a lasting settlement and addressing Ukraine's long-term security concerns.
Asked whether Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's actions involving Iran, drug-smuggling vessels, Venezuela and Yemen had been lawful, Rubio defended the administration's decisions.
He said the US president, as commander-in-chief, had the authority to address imminent threats to American security.
“I don't know how anyone could argue that drug dealers trying to import poison into our country is not an imminent threat,” Rubio said.
He also described the operation involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as, in many respects, a law enforcement operation, arguing that Maduro was a fugitive from American justice.
Rubio maintained that the administration's actions had been carried out under presidential orders and in the interests of US national security.
Rubio acknowledged continued Iranian drone attacks targeting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz but said the United States had been effective in protecting maritime traffic.
He claimed that on some nights, between 80 and 85 per cent of the oil shipments moving through the strait before the conflict were still getting through.
“The only oil that's not getting out consistently, through the Straits of Hormuz, is Iranian oil,” he said.
Rubio urged international partners, particularly European countries, to contribute to protecting global shipping. However, he acknowledged that he had not received a firm response from G7 counterparts when he raised the issue.
He described the reluctance of some countries to commit forces while the risk of conflict remained as a “catch-22”.
Rubio also addressed US-China discussions on artificial intelligence safeguards, saying technical-level conversations had taken place but that there was no agreement to announce.
He said AI governance should feature in discussions at the upcoming APEC and G20 meetings.
On broader relations with Beijing, Rubio stressed that the administration would prioritise American interests.
“We work for America. We don't work for the global order; we don't work for other countries. We work for the United States,” he said.
He also defended the administration's decision to maintain close relations with Egypt despite concerns over restrictions on independent journalism, describing Cairo as a reliable US defence partner.
On the Middle East more broadly, Rubio blamed Iran for supporting armed groups and contributing to regional instability, including through its backing of Hezbollah, Hamas, Iraqi militias and the Houthis.
He said Washington remained committed to supporting Saudi Arabia against threats and to facilitating direct peace efforts between Israel and Lebanon.UNI AAB
Tags: #Rubio says US has no immediate need for major military operations against Iran# cites economic pressure
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