Rubio told allies that the US does not plan to resume strikes on Iran - Axios
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in recent days told foreign ministers of several allied countries that Washington does not yet plan to initiate new strikes on Iran. Instead of returning to large-scale military action, Donald Trump's administration intends to increase economic pressure on Tehran, Axios writes, citing an American official and another informed source.
According to the outlet's sources, the current US strategy involves increasing sanctions, continuing the naval blockade of Iran, and increasing oil volumes passing through the Strait of Hormuz to the world market.
However, Rubio did not rule out new American strikes if Iran first attacks the US or its forces. One American official told Axios that the current course could be maintained at least until the US midterm elections, after which the military option may again be considered.
The shift in focus comes amid a new sanctions campaign by Washington. The US Treasury Department this week added over 60 Iran-related targets to its sanctions lists and expanded the possibility of secondary sanctions against companies and financial institutions of third countries that continue to cooperate with Tehran.
At the same time, the US believes that Iran's position in the Strait of Hormuz has significantly weakened. The US Navy has completed mine clearing of the main navigation route in international waters of the strait, after which more tankers began passing through it. Washington expects that this will reduce Tehran's ability to influence global oil supplies.
According to American officials, the naval blockade is also limiting Iran's oil revenues: over the past two weeks, almost no tankers were recorded near Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Washington and Tehran are not currently taking place. The White House expects that increased economic pressure may eventually force Iran to return to negotiations.
White House special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who previously handled negotiations with Iran, are scheduled to visit the US Central Command on Wednesday for briefings on the situation in the region.
Based on materials from: Axios
