US economic pressure on Iran makes major combat operations unnecessary, Rubio says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that US economic sanctions and a naval blockade against Iran are working so effectively that President Donald Trump does not need to conduct major combat operations there. Speaking in Paris after two days of G7 meetings, Rubio rejected claims that avoiding military action would amount to a stalemate, citing extraordinary and growing economic pain for Iran and input from regional allies. He noted Trump plans to hold off on new strikes after appeals from Middle Eastern countries. Trump has acknowledged the Iran war contributed to Republicans' defeat in last week's midterm elections, while Vice President JD Vance was more direct, saying the war was the reason for the loss.