Marco Rubio has cautioned NATO allies that the conflict in Iran might extend beyond the initial six-week timeframe set by the White House, possibly lasting an additional “two to four weeks.” The US Secretary of State held discussions with G7 foreign ministers, including Yvette Cooper, during a summit in France where the focus was on the Middle East crisis. Rubio expressed concerns about the ongoing chaos in the crucial Strait of Hormuz oil route, emphasizing that it could present immediate challenges even after the US military operations cease.
Addressing the media, Rubio highlighted the possibility of Iran imposing tolls on ships using the strait, foreseeing adverse economic repercussions globally. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration to ensure the strait remains accessible post-conflict.
Rubio condemned Iran’s potential actions as illegal and perilous to the world. Meanwhile, Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, stressed the urgency of preventing Iran from holding the global economy hostage amidst projections of significant UK economic downturn due to global disruptions. She raised alarms about Russia’s cooperation with Iran and continued to press Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine invasion despite the Gulf crisis.
Cooper mentioned that drones supplied by Iran to Russia have been implicated in attacks in Ukraine, pointing to evidence of Russian support for Iran in the Middle East conflict. However, Rubio, aligning with President Donald Trump, refuted claims suggesting Russian assistance to Iran in targeting American military assets in the region, stating that Russia’s actions did not impede US operations.
In a separate development, Trump, through his Truth Social platform, deferred threats of bombing Iranian energy facilities, citing progress in negotiations with Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. During the G7 meeting, Rubio disclosed that two Iranian officials expressed readiness to engage with the US, but confusion persisted over the power dynamics in Tehran following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
