US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has informed several allied foreign ministers that Washington does not anticipate launching new military strikes against Iran “for the time being.” According to a report, this development marks a strategic pivot toward utilizing economic and maritime pressure as the primary tools of engagement. Rubio outlined the Trump administration’s current approach during recent phone calls with his foreign counterparts, emphasizing that the focus will shift to increasing economic pressure through a US naval blockade and a new sanctions initiative recently announced by the Treasury Department.
The administration’s strategy also includes plans to facilitate the movement of as much Iranian oil as possible through the Strait of Hormuz and into global energy markets. While a US official clarified that Washington is not planning a return to major combat operations, the administration has not explicitly ruled out military strikes should Iran initiate an attack. A second US official noted that the US Navy’s efforts to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz could represent a turning point in the conflict, asserting that the operation has largely neutralized one of Iran’s primary forms of leverage. The report suggests that this current strategic approach may remain in place until after the US midterm elections, at which point a renewed military campaign could be reconsidered.
Tehran has formally rejected these claims. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed reports that US forces had successfully cleared mines in the waterway or were preparing to deploy mine-sweeping vessels. “If the United States claims that the mines have been completely cleared, why doesn't a US ship pass through?” Gharibabadi asked, adding that the specific locations of the mines remain known only to Iran. He further warned that any US mine-sweeping vessels entering the area would be considered targets. Gharibabadi characterized President Donald Trump’s comments regarding mine clearance as an attempt to calm global markets.
