Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated during the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Paris that due to the impact of economic sanctions and other restrictions, there is no need to resume major military operations against Iran.
Sanctions and Their Effects on Iran
Rubio said at the meeting: "The economic campaign against Iran is so devastating that there is currently no need for major military operations." He also added that President Donald Trump has concluded that the desired objectives are currently being achieved through economic measures.
Rubio warned that if Iran crosses "red lines," the U.S. military is prepared and will impose a "terrible price" on Tehran. He noted that European members of the G7 emphasized the need to avoid any new escalation against Iran during this meeting.
Diplomatic Talks and Current Situation
Rubio also pointed out that Iran currently does not seem to be approaching negotiations realistically, but he believes that "eventually, economic realities will penetrate the minds of the most radical individuals."
Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister and chair of the meeting, warned of the risk of new escalation between the U.S. and Iran, stating: "This risk has not been completely ruled out. Otherwise, we would not have spent so much time and energy discussing these issues over the past two days."
Ed Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, also called for a "full diplomatic effort" to end this conflict and warned that the current situation of "neither war nor peace" brings significant economic damage. He emphasized the necessity of fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the energy transit hub.
It seems that diplomatic efforts, especially considering recent developments in the region and the recent positions of U.S. officials and their allies, remain on the agenda. Meanwhile, the economic situation in Iran is severely affected by sanctions, and economic pressures on the ruling regime in the country continue to increase.
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