Rubio and Vance split on Iran as US opts for blockade over war

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington's economic pressure campaign against Iran is so effective that large-scale military operations are unnecessary, signaling a shift toward a prolonged blockade strategy. The remarks follow President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffering a crushing midterm defeat partly attributed to public opposition to the Iran war. Rubio made the comments Tuesday after a G7 meeting in Paris, saying "the economic campaign is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations." Trump echoed this stance Monday, calling further strikes "quite unlikely" while maintaining the US remains "locked and loaded." Vice President JD Vance, however, favors a deal with Iran, which Trump believes is currently impossible, according to Reuters. The administration's middle-ground strategy of intensifying sanctions and blockades while avoiding full-scale war is backed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Jared Kushner. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 71 percent of Americans favor congressional legislation to halt the war, while Iran insists the conflict will only end through "the language of respect" and rejects US demands.