US Sets End Date for War in Iran

Image Source: CELAL GUNES / Anadolu via AFP

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced on Friday, March 27 during a press conference that the United States plans to achieve their war objectives in Iran within “the next two weeks.” “When we are done with them, they will be weaker than they have ever been in recent history,” he declared to journalists after a G7 meeting near Paris.

“We have to finish the job,” the chief diplomat under Donald Trump said, claiming that the United States can “achieve all [their] objectives without deploying troops on the ground.” He mentioned targets such as the destruction of “factories that manufacture missiles, rockets, and drones,” as well as the “navy,” “air forces,” and Iranian “missile launchers.”

Marco Rubio also discussed progress in negotiations. “We have had exchanges of messages and signals from the Iranian system – what remains of it – indicating a willingness to discuss certain topics,” he said, revealing that the US has not yet received a response to their 15-point ceasefire plan. He noted that Tehran has not specified who would participate in the negotiations.

Deadlock Continues in the Strait of Hormuz

The US Secretary of State also addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s blockade disrupts the global economy and trade. According to the New York Times, Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington was not asking European countries or other states to join a military campaign against Iran. However, he stated that these countries had strongly urged to contribute to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

“If these countries are affected by this situation, all we have said is that they should do something,” the American explained. He also accused Tehran of planning to establish a “payment system” to control maritime traffic in the area, a project he deemed “illegal” and “unacceptable.” The issue of the Strait of Hormuz is crucial to Washington, which had exerted heavy pressure on the Iranians to reopen it, with no success so far.

Last Saturday, Donald Trump threatened to strike power plants in Iran if the strategic maritime route was not reopened within 48 hours. The US president later extended the deadline by several days on Monday, before pushing it back again on Thursday night, giving Tehran until April 6 to unblock the strait.