After a meeting with G7 foreign ministers in France, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the ongoing military campaign against Iran could be completed within weeks rather than months, adding that by then Iran would be weaker than at any point in its recent history; he noted that while operations are progressing quickly, violence continues across the region and Israel has warned it will expand and intensify its strikes; the campaign, which began in late February, has exposed differing views among U.S. officials about its duration, while Iran insists it remains resilient and denies any ongoing negotiations despite claims by Donald Trump that talks are progressing well, with his envoy Steve Witkoff expressing optimism about a possible meeting; meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Beirut have caused casualties as Iran continues launching missiles and drones in retaliation; Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said attacks would target facilities linked to weapons production, including nuclear sites, missile stockpiles, and manufacturing centers inside Tehran, though Iran claims limited damage; however, international assessments suggest a significant portion of Iran’s missile capability has been degraded, even as it continues firing daily barrages; the conflict has also shaken global markets, particularly due to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, raising fears of disruption; Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it has turned back several vessels and restricted movement of ships linked to U.S. and Israeli allies; Rubio warned that keeping the strait open remains a major challenge and accused Iran of potentially trying to impose tolls, which he called unacceptable and harmful to the global economy; the United States has deployed thousands of troops and may consider military action to secure the waterway if necessary; Iran, in turn, has warned that any ground invasion would trigger strikes on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, potentially driving oil prices sharply higher; casualties continue to rise across Israel, Lebanon, and Iran, with thousands killed, injured, or displaced, according to international reports; while the U.S. and Israel say their objective is to weaken Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, talk of regime change has been downplayed, and diplomatic efforts have not completely ceased, with indirect contacts reportedly ongoing and G7 nations calling for free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and an end to attacks on civilians.
US hopes Iran operation will end in weeks, not months: Marco Rubio
