Paris:Four diplomats from the G7 have conveyed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the G7 foreign ministers on Tuesday about the United States' intention to maintain "devastating" economic sanctions on Iran.
According to Maan News Agency, Rubio emphasized that Washington has alternatives to war or acceding to Iran's unacceptable demands. His remarks were made during a meeting in Paris attended by foreign ministers from the G7 countries, which include Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, alongside the European Union.
Rubio reportedly used strong language to describe Iranian officials, with two diplomats noting he labeled them as "crazy." He indicated that the current US policy of stringent economic sanctions is effectively limiting Iran's capacity to fund its regional operations and proxies. One diplomat mentioned that Rubio asserted the US will continue to impose severe economic costs on Iran.
Rubio's statements followed US President Donald Trump's announcement to delay new military actions against Iran after appeals from regional countries, notably from Qatar's prime minister during discussions at the White House. Trump also confirmed plans to maintain a naval blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, acting as a mediator with Iran, made an unexpected visit to the G7 meeting in Paris following his discussions with Trump. He engaged with ministers from European nations and Saudi Arabia. Two European diplomats noted that Sheikh Mohammed expressed cautious optimism after his talks in Washington, suggesting that a diplomatic resolution to the crisis remains feasible rather than escalating the conflict.
Some of Trump's top advisers, including Rubio, White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent, advocate for robust economic pressure on Iran. Conversely, US Vice President J.D. Vance, who attributed the Republican Party's losses in the recent midterm elections to the ongoing conflict with Iran, prefers negotiating an agreement with Tehran. However, Trump currently assesses that a lasting agreement is unattainable.