Rubio Says U.S. Could Achieve Iran Objectives Within Weeks Amid Ongoing Strikes
WASHINGTON — The United States expects to meet its military objectives against Iran “in a matter of weeks, not months,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday, as U.S. forces continue strikes aimed at weakening Tehran’s military capabilities while officials pursue a parallel diplomatic track.
Speaking in a televised interview on Good Morning America, Rubio said U.S. operations are focused on dismantling Iran’s ability to wage war and preventing it from developing nuclear weapons.
“We are destroying Iran’s navy. We are destroying their ability to launch missiles by a significant percentage,” Rubio said, adding that the broader goal is to “wipe out their defense industrial base” to limit future production of missiles and drones.
He outlined four key objectives: eliminating Iran’s air force, crippling its navy, sharply reducing its missile-launch capabilities, and targeting its military manufacturing infrastructure.
“All of this so that they can never hide behind it to acquire a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, adding that the campaign is progressing “on or ahead of schedule.”
His remarks come after President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of expanding strikes to include Iran’s energy infrastructure if diplomatic efforts fail.
Despite the ongoing military campaign, Rubio emphasized that diplomacy remains the administration’s preferred outcome. “The president… prefers diplomacy,” he said, noting that messages are being exchanged through intermediaries and that some limited conversations are underway.
He suggested there may be signs of internal divisions within Iran’s leadership. “There’s some fractures going on there internally,” Rubio said, adding that certain officials are “saying some of the right things privately.”
Still, he cautioned that a diplomatic breakthrough is far from guaranteed. “We’re going to test that proposition very strongly… but we also have to be prepared for the fact that that effort might fail,” he said.
Rubio also pushed back on Iranian threats to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route. “That will never be allowed to happen,” he said, noting that other nations have even greater economic stakes in keeping the waterway open.
He accused Tehran of backing militant groups across the Middle East, saying, “Every single terrorist group in this region has a link to the Iranian regime,” citing organizations such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
At the same time, Rubio drew a distinction between Iran’s government and its citizens. “The people of Iran are incredible people. The people who lead them… that is the problem,” he said.
The latest comments reflect a dual-track U.S. strategy that combines sustained military pressure with cautious diplomatic outreach, with the coming weeks likely to determine whether negotiations can prevent a wider conflict. (Source: IANS)
