American Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, after the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in France, that the US operation in Iran will end in a few weeks and that ground troops are not needed to achieve its objectives.
The United States expects the operation in Iran to conclude within a few weeks, not months, Rubio told reporters.
"We have objectives and we are very confident that we are about to achieve them," he said, according to Sky News.
No Ground Troops
Asked about a possible American ground invasion, Marco Rubio said it is not necessary.
"We are ahead of schedule in most cases. We can achieve all our objectives without ground troops. But we will always be ready to provide the president with maximum options and opportunities to adapt to unforeseen situations, should they arise," Rubio stated.
He also mentioned that the recent deployment of thousands of additional troops in the region aimed to provide President Donald Trump with options to respond to unforeseen situations in the conflict but declined to provide operational details.
"As for the reason for the deployments, first and foremost, the president must be prepared for multiple unforeseen situations. We will always be ready to offer the president maximum options and opportunities to adjust to unforeseen situations, should they arise," he specified.
Rubio mentioned that Iran could introduce a fee for crossing the Strait of Hormuz but stressed that "any permanent toll on this waterway would be unacceptable."
Regarding the Moscow-Tehran ties, the senior American official clarified that "nothing Russia does for Iran hinders or affects US military operations."
Iran Has Not Responded to the 15-Point Plan
Rubio also stated that Washington is still awaiting Iran's response to the US 15-point plan. "We have not received it yet," he said. "It could happen at any moment. In the meantime, we continue our operation."
CBS News previously reported, citing sources, that the Iranian response is expected on Friday, as mentioned by BBC.
US Calls on the World to Get Involved
Rubio was also asked if other G7 members had committed to using their armed forces to protect the strait after the war with Iran.
"I think everyone has made a commitment that they understand and that they would need to participate in something like that," he said. The US has always considered creating an international coalition as a "post-conflict necessity" for securing the strait.
"I don't care what Iran says - the first oil tankers that will pass through the strait after this operation ends will want an escort from someone. So, the world should get involved," he stated.
The US is willing to be part of the coalition for the strait, Rubio says, "but we have encouraged others to form it," he added.
Rubio Uses Special Language to Alleviate War Fears
Rubio's comments on the war in Iran have remained "very vague," but they align with Washington's recent shift in position towards the conflict, said American correspondent James Matthews for Sky News.
"I think this 'weeks, not months' issue is clearly an attempt to calm American and international concerns, who see this as a long-term adventure without any deadline," he explained.
"Obviously, Americans are now articulating the 'endgame language,' and I think what Rubio had to say fits very well with that," Matthews concluded.