Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Group of Seven foreign ministers in Paris on Tuesday that the United States sees no need for major combat operations against Iran for now, arguing that economic pressure on Tehran is having the intended effect.
Speaking after the meeting, Rubio said the economic campaign against Iran was "so devastating" that large-scale military action was unnecessary at this point, AFP reported. He warned that the U.S. military stands ready if Iran crosses American red lines, and said Tehran did not yet appear realistic about negotiations.
Reuters, citing four G7 diplomats, reported that Rubio told his counterparts Washington had options beyond resuming the war or accepting Tehran's demands.
European ministers pressed Rubio to avoid a new escalation and to get shipping moving freely again through the Strait of Hormuz. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who chaired the talks, said the risk of renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran had not been fully ruled out.
Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, made an unscheduled stop in Paris to brief his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia. He had met President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Monday and described those talks as positive.
The Paris session lasted less than an hour, and European officials came away hopeful that a negotiated outcome may be within reach, The National reported.
Trump said Monday he would hold off on new strikes for now after appeals from regional governments, including Qatar. He said there was momentum toward ending the war and declared that Iran was "effectively over" militarily, while leaving the door open to further attacks.
The war began Feb. 28 with the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, AFP noted.