Marco Rubio Reportedly Tells Allies That U.S. Won’t Strike Iran ‘For The Time Being’ And Focus On Economic Pressure

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told allies that the U.S. is not expected to carry out new strikes against Iran "for the time being" as the Trump administration focuses on economic pressure against Tehran.

Citing a U.S. official familiar with the matter, Axios detailed that Rubio told counterparts that a return to major combat operations is not being considered but can't be ruled out either, especially if Iran strikes first.

Another source told the outlet that President Donald Trump's announcement that all mines have been cleared from the waterway is a key moment as it removes a key leverage.

"I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said in a social media post.

"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect," he added.

The Trump administration this week unveiled a plan to impose secondary sanctions on those "enabling" Iran to maintain its economic activity.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan is called "Operation Economic Outcast" and appeared to say China could be reached by the measures.

"We want to make clear here today that no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions," he said when asked if the measures could impact Chinese banks or the Trump administration would refrain from doing so to preserve relations with Beijing.

"If they facilitate transactions and are part of the ecosystem that turns Iranian oil into money, into repression, they will be targeted," he added. Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet with President Donald Trump in September.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf appeared to acknowledge the impact of economic pressure last week, saying military might alone is not enough to move the country forward.

"No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we don't have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure," Qalibaf said in a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi business leaders at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.

He went on to say that economic stability and security are inseparable. "If we establish security but do not sustain it through the economy, it will not last," he added, also accusing the U.S. and Israel of conducting what he described as "cognitive" warfare.