Rubio says no need for major combat operations against Iran given US economic campaign

Speaking to reporters in Paris after two days of meetings with G7 allies, Rubio repeatedly pushed back on the assertion that not returning to military action would amount to a stalemate or status quoFollow us on GoogleUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press during the G7 foreign ministers summit at the George C. Marshall Center in the Hotel Talleyrand in Paris, France, November 10, 2026. (photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL VIA REUTERS)NOVEMBER 10, 2026 18:47Updated: NOVEMBER 10, 2026 18:54US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that he told G7 allies the US economic sanctions and naval blockade are working so well that President Donald Trump does not need to conduct major combat operations against Iran.Speaking to reporters in Paris after two days of meetings with G7 allies, Rubio repeatedly pushed back on the assertion that not returning to military action would amount to a stalemate or status quo."The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now is extraordinary, and it compounds. It's growing every day," Rubio said. He added that Trump has also received input from regional allies in the Middle East confirming this assessment."We don't need to conduct military strikes if we're achieving the same objective through economic means and economic pressure. That's not a stalemate," Rubio said. "Never has Iran ever faced the inability to sell energy in the global market like they are today."On Monday, Trump said he plans to hold off on military strikes against Iran after appeals from ​countries in the region, including from Qatar's prime minister in White House talks, and that he did not believe military action was needed. “At this point, taking the military action doesn’t seem to be a very necessary thing. But we’re locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason that changes,” Trump said.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press after a meeting with France's President on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers summit in Paris, France, November 9, 2026. (credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL VIA REUTERS)Trump convinced tenable deal not possible, source saysSome of Trump's top advisers also prefer economic pressure over military strikes, namely newly installed White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a person familiar with the thinking said. Vice President JD Vance prefers a deal with Iran, but Trump is for now convinced that a tenable deal is not possible, the person said.The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Trump has acknowledged ​the Iran war was one reason for Republicans' defeat in last week's midterm congressional elections, while Vance, seen as a potential successor to Trump when his term ends in two years, was more definitive, saying, "The reason we lost is the war."The US ​has maintained sanctions against Iran for decades, ⁠most of which have been aimed at curtailing the country's oil revenue, acquisition of weapons components and at cutting off funding for business enterprises controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a dominant force in the Iranian economy.Tehran has weathered the sanctions, but the naval blockade that the US imposed has inflicted severe economic damage on the country.Iran's top security official says no talks underway with USIran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei said there are currently no negotiations taking place between Tehran and Washington, in an interview with pro-Iran broadcaster Al-Mayadeen.Follow us on Google