Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his foreign counterparts this week that the United States plans to sideline military strikes on Iran in exchange for other forms of pressure, according to a report.
Rubio told U.S. allies that the plan for the Iran war is to refrain from striking Tehran “for the time being” and focus on the Treasury Department’s economic sanctions push, according to U.S. officials who spoke with Axios.
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It was also noted that U.S. naval forces have removed sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz, as announced by President Donald Trump earlier on Tuesday, making it easier for oil to flow through the waterway and further choking Iran’s economy.
Rubio also signaled eased military action by sending staff back to embassies in Middle Eastern countries that have been subjected to Iranian fire, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait, according to the New York Times. Diplomats were also reportedly sent back to the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.
The reported plan for the war follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement on Monday that the U.S. will expand economic sanctions on Iran and promised that secondary sanctions would be imposed on countries that allow their banks and firms to maintain business relationships with Tehran. Bessent referred to the sanctions as the “economic asphyxiation of this regime.”
Reports of U.S. military setbacks have also come to light as the war grows increasingly unpopular in the homeland. Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were said to be living in dire conditions as their deployment had been extended to support U.S. efforts in Iran.
Pentagon leakers have also revealed to several outlets that the U.S. was running dangerously low on interceptor ammunition, leaving it vulnerable to Iranian drone and missile attacks. The interceptors are responsible for protecting U.S. forces in the region and allies, but have been depleted as a result of Iran launching drones since the start of the war in February.
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The officials told Axios on Tuesday that Rubio said strikes could still be on the table if Iran strikes first, but the greater plan is to hold pressure on other areas until after the midterm elections. Several polls have revealed Trump’s approval rating is on a downward trend due to the Iran war.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the State Department for comment.
