War to end in ‘weeks, not months’: Rubio says no need to send ground troops to Iran

The United States expects its subject operations against Iran to reason wrong “weeks, not months,” and tin execute its objectives without deploying crushed troops, caput of authorities Marco Rubio said connected Friday. Speaking aft meetings with G7 counterparts successful France, Rubio said Washington was “on oregon up of docket successful that operation, and expect to reason it astatine the due clip present - a substance of weeks, not months.”

He added that portion immoderate troops are being sent to the region, it is “to springiness the president maximum optionality and maximum accidental to set the contingencies, should they emerge.”

His remarks travel adjacent arsenic the struggle continues to widen crossed the Middle East.

A US authoritative told Reuters that an Iranian rocket and drone onslaught connected the Prince Sultan airbase successful Saudi Arabia wounded 12 American personnel, including 2 seriously, and damaged subject equipment. The conflict, which began connected February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes, has disrupted planetary vigor supplies, peculiarly done the Strait of Hormuz, a cardinal way for astir 20 cardinal barrels of lipid per day. Iran’s quality to endanger shipping has contributed to volatility successful lipid and commodity markets.

Rubio said discussions with G7 overseas ministers besides covered the hazard of Iran imposing shipping tolls done the strait adjacent aft the conflict. He suggested that European and Asian countries benefiting from the way should lend to ensuring escaped passage.The US has begun deploying further forces to the region, including thousands of Marines and airborne troops, raising concerns astir a imaginable escalation into a prolonged crushed conflict.

However, president Donald Trump has indicated helium is seeking to upwind down the warfare and prosecute a diplomatic solution.Trump has said Iran is negotiating with the US and is “begging” for a deal, though officials successful Tehran person denied that immoderate nonstop talks are underway. He has besides acceptable a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz oregon look further attacks connected its civilian vigor infrastructure.US peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington expects a effect soon to a 15-point connection aimed astatine ending the conflict, which includes demands related to Iran’s atomic and rocket programmes. Meanwhile, caller strikes were reported crossed Iran, including connected nuclear-related facilities and concern sites. Iranian authorities said determination were nary radiation leaks pursuing attacks connected a yellowcake uranium facility, a assertion besides noted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.The struggle has led to important casualties and economical disruption. More than 1,900 radical person been killed successful Iran, portion lipid prices person surged, with Brent crude crossing $112 a barrel.

In the United States, substance prices person besides risen sharply, adding to ostentation concerns. Despite the harm inflicted, US quality estimates suggest lone astir a 3rd of Iran’s rocket arsenal has been destroyed, indicating the state retains important onslaught capability.As the warfare continues, Gulf countries person called for immoderate eventual statement to see semipermanent curbs connected Iran’s rocket and drone capabilities and safeguards to forestall aboriginal disruptions to planetary vigor supplies.