U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the American military operation against Iran is expected to last weeks rather than months, adding that Washington aims to meet all its objectives, including weakening Iran’s air and naval forces and disrupting its missile and drone production capabilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that communication channels with Tehran remain open, mostly via intermediaries, even as the U.S. continues its military operations in the region.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Rubio said there were “messages and some direct talks going on between some inside of Iran and the United States, primarily through intermediaries,” adding that U.S. President Donald Trump “always prefers diplomacy, always prefers an outcome.”
His comments come amid speculation over a possible deployment of U.S. troops in Iran, as the war that began on 28 February with U.S.-Israeli strikes continues to unsettle regional stability and global energy markets.
Rubio said earlier rounds of indirect talks had been disrupted by hostilities, but that a second phase of diplomacy was already underway before the latest escalation.
Despite Tehran’s denials, Pakistan confirmed plans to host direct talks aimed at reaching a broader settlement. It had also previously confirmed it has been relaying messages between the U.S. and Iran.
Rubio emphasised that diplomacy remains Washington’s preferred route, saying a peaceful resolution could have been achieved before the current war escalated.
This approach, he added, allows the U.S. to maintain flexibility while exerting pressure on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes.
‘Iran must abandon nuclear weapons and missile programmes‘
Rubio reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons or maintain missile systems capable of threatening its neighbours.
“The Iranian regime can never have nuclear weapons,” he said, highlighting that Iran’s short-range missiles target Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Rubio said that if Iran wants nuclear energy, they must obtain it through “a well-established mechanism that everyone else has agreed to”. He also stressed that it cannot develop a system that allows rapid weaponisation.
“They have to abandon all these weapon programmes and all their nuclear ambitions,” he said, echoing Washington’s longstanding demands.
Rubio accused Iran of diverting national resources to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as militias in Iraq and Syria, rather than addressing domestic needs.
“It’s their regime that’s been a problem… instead, they’ve chosen to spend the wealth of their country to support external conflicts,” he added.
Strait of Hormuz will reopen ‘one way or another’
The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has restricted access to, remains a central focus for Washington. Rubio said that the U.S. would not accept Iranian sovereignty over the vital waterway and vowed it would reopen “one way or another” following the conclusion of hostilities.
“This will be open because Iran agrees to abide by international law… or a coalition of nations, including the United States, will ensure that it is,” Rubio said, highlighting potential consequences if Iran attempts to maintain control.
He asserted that the Strait of Hormuz will be open “when this operation is over”.
Military objectives ‘weeks, not months’ away
Rubio said the U.S. military campaign had made significant progress, with key objectives either achieved or close to completion. “The destruction of their air force, which has been achieved; the destruction of their navy, which has largely been achieved; and a significant reduction in the number of missile launchers,” he said.
He confirmed that factories producing missiles and drones would also be targeted, adding that the campaign would take “weeks, not months.”
Delaying action, he warned, would have allowed Iran to expand its capabilities. “Imagine five years from now… when they had more missiles, more drones, what they would have been willing to do to their neighbours and to us—that was intolerable,” he said.
Iran’s leadership transition
Rubio commented on Iran’s leadership transition, noting uncertainty over the role of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a joint operation by the U.S. and Israel in late February. “We don’t even know if he’s in power… It’s not quite clear how decisions are being made inside of Iran,” he said.
He added that while regime change is not an official objective of the military campaign, the U.S. would welcome political transitions aligned with a different vision for Iran’s future. “The people of Iran are incredible… But it’s their regime that’s been a problem,” he said, adding that Washington would not oppose change if it occurred.
Criticism of NATO allies and regional partnerships
Rubio criticised NATO members who denied the U.S. access to airspace and bases during operations.
“We have countries like Spain… denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it,” he said, questioning the alliance’s reciprocal benefits.
He also suggested that NATO’s structure may need to be reassessed if allies fail to support strategic operations.
He also warned that regional partners must cooperate to ensure Iran cannot resume threatening missile and drone activity.
Rubio concluded that Washington’s goals remain clear: degrading Iran’s military capacity, preventing nuclear weapon development, and ensuring regional security, particularly in the Gulf.
“We have very clear objectives that we’re trying to achieve here… and that’s something that’s not going to take months,” he said.
