Washington DC: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has informed several allied foreign ministers that Washington does not currently intend to launch new military strikes against Iran, marking a shift toward economic and maritime pressure as diplomatic efforts remain stalled, Axios reported.
U.S. officials cited by Axios said Rubio conveyed that the United States does not plan to initiate new military strikes against Tehran “for the time being.” Instead, the administration is focusing on other forms of pressure, including sanctions and a naval blockade, while maintaining the flow of oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The tactical adjustment comes as the Trump administration shifts its emphasis toward squeezing Iran’s economy while seeking to avoid a return to large-scale combat operations.
Although Rubio indicated that Washington has no immediate plans for major military action, U.S. officials have maintained that the military option remains available if Tehran strikes first.
Washington believes operations around the Strait of Hormuz have significantly weakened one of Iran’s key tools for influencing global energy markets. U.S. forces have been involved in clearing mines from the waterway, while a U.S.-led shipping operation has enabled increasing numbers of tankers to use a southern route along the coast of Oman.
U.S. officials have characterized the development as significant, saying Iran’s ability to restrict maritime energy flows through the strait has been substantially reduced.
The naval blockade has also sharply curtailed Iran’s oil exports. American officials have noted that very few tankers have recently been spotted at Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export terminal.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the administration was severing what he described as the Iranian regime’s remaining financial lifelines while reiterating President Donald Trump’s position that Tehran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Washington has expanded its economic campaign against Tehran. The U.S. has imposed additional sanctions while warning foreign governments and companies conducting business with Iran that they could face severe penalties.
Officials cited by Axios said the policy could continue at least through the November midterm elections, after which a renewed military campaign could potentially be considered.
Tehran has rejected the U.S. strategy, denouncing Washington’s efforts to isolate its financial system as unlawful. Global oil prices fell for a second consecutive day as traders appeared to discount the likelihood of an immediate disruption following the latest sanctions warnings.
The broader conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, while U.S. and Israeli military operations have severely degraded Tehran’s conventional military capabilities. The precise status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, however, remains unclear.
Amid the tensions, Iran and Oman held talks on managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The two countries discussed establishing a temporary navigational corridor and agreed to cooperate on clearing mines from the waterway, which has remained largely closed to normal commercial shipping.
Despite a relative lull in major direct hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, high-level diplomatic efforts toward a lasting resolution remain stalled.
Maritime risks also persist in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that an oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile Tuesday, leaving it disabled approximately 9 nautical miles northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman, near the entrance to the strait.
Trump has said mines in the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared, with Washington pointing to increased tanker traffic as evidence that Iran’s leverage over the waterway has diminished. However, shipping activity remains far below normal levels, with only five commodity vessels transiting the strait Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of 15, according to preliminary Kpler data.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing through backchannels despite the absence of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations. Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir traveled to Tehran on Sunday for high-level talks with Iranian leaders.
Meanwhile, Saudi-linked broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that Munir spoke with Trump before traveling to Iran and conveyed a potential proposal to Iranian leaders. The White House did not deny that Trump had spoken with Munir, but officials maintained that no active negotiations with Tehran were underway.
At the same time, Washington has begun restoring diplomatic personnel to some Middle Eastern missions that were evacuated or downsized during earlier phases of the conflict. The move reflects an assessment that the immediate risk of rapid escalation has diminished, although several U.S. bases and embassies continue to operate with reduced staffing levels.
