Khaberni - Axios reported, based on three directly informed sources, that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed G7 foreign ministers on Friday that the war with Iran will last from two to four weeks.
He emphasized that the United States is determined to achieve all its objectives, and that the military operation will end "at the appropriate time", with estimates indicating that it will take weeks, not months.
Rubio confirmed that the United States is close to entering into "serious" negotiations with Iran, noting that contact is still being made through intermediaries and not directly, according to what Axios reported from the sources.
He added that there is "uncertainty" regarding who is actually making decisions in Tehran at present, pointing to the presence of Iranian officials willing to negotiate with Washington, but they need approval from the supreme leadership.
He mentioned that intermediaries are facing difficulty in communicating with Iranian officials, due to their avoidance of using phones for fear of tracking their locations and targeting them, which has slowed down communications.
According to the sources, the U.S. administration is considering additional escalation options that may include the use of ground forces, along with the deployment of thousands more troops to the region.
On the platform X, Rubio said that the mission of the United States is "clear" and involves permanently preventing Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon, emphasizing the need to deal with the current stage through "maximum contributions from all partners."
In the same context, Reuters reported that Rubio said Iran imposing fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", calling for prevention of any such steps.
Rubio added that the United States is waiting for more clarifications on who it will speak with in any potential negotiations with Iran.
He indicated that Washington is capable of achieving its goals in Iran "without any ground forces", in the context of ongoing operations.
Three sources reported that Rubio has not currently asked G7 countries to contribute ships to secure or clear the Strait of Hormuz, but he has called on them to be ready for a potential role after the war ends.
The minister affirmed that his country does not rule out transferring weapon shipments originally designated for Ukraine to meet its needs in the war against Iran, while also downplaying Russia's impact in the conflict in the Middle East.
Rubio told reporters after a meeting of the G7 near Paris "No shipments have been diverted so far, but it could happen", adding "If we need something for the United States and it's American, we will keep it first for the United States."
