Washington, March 30 – The United States expects to achieve its military objectives against Iran “in a matter of weeks, not months,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting that key targets, including Tehran’s air force, navy, and missile capabilities, are already being dismantled even as Washington tests a parallel diplomatic approach.
In a television interview on “Good Morning America,” Rubio said the operation remains focused on degrading Iran’s military capacity and preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“We are destroying Iran’s navy. We are significantly reducing their ability to launch missiles,” he said, adding that the United States aims to “wipe out their defense industrial base” to stop future production of missiles and drones.
Rubio reiterated that the objectives have been clear from the outset. “Number one, the destruction of their air force. Number two, the destruction of their navy. Number three: a significant reduction in their missile-launching capability. And number four, the destruction of their factories,” he said.
“All of this so that they can never hide behind it to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he added, stressing that progress is “on or ahead of schedule.”
The remarks followed comments by President Donald Trump indicating that the United States could escalate strikes to include Iran’s energy infrastructure if diplomatic efforts fail.
Rubio, however, underscored that diplomacy remains the preferred path. “The president… prefers diplomacy,” he said, noting that “messages [are] being relayed back and forth, some conversations are going on, including through intermediaries.”
He suggested that internal divisions may be emerging within Iran’s leadership. “There’s some fractures going on there internally,” Rubio said, adding that some figures are “saying some of the right things privately.”
At the same time, he cautioned that any diplomatic breakthrough is uncertain. “We’re going to test that proposition very strongly… but we also have to be prepared for the fact that that effort might fail,” he said.
On maritime security, Rubio rejected Iranian threats to control the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping lane. “That will never be allowed to happen,” he said, warning that other countries have “more at stake there than we do.”
He also accused Tehran of fuelling instability across the region. “Every single terrorist group in this region has a link to the Iranian regime,” Rubio said, naming groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
Despite the sharp criticism, Rubio drew a distinction between Iran’s leadership and its people. “The people of Iran are incredible people. The people who lead them… that is the problem,” he said.
The latest escalation underscores a dual-track US approach combining sustained military pressure with tentative diplomatic outreach. The coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining whether backchannel talks can avert a broader conflict.
