US Is Poised to Meet Iran Goals, Ready to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz

(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Monday that Washington is making rapid progress toward its military objectives in Iran, suggesting they could be accomplished “in a matter of weeks.” He also noted that President Donald Trump has “a number of options available” to counter any Iranian attempt to control the Strait of Hormuz.

In remarks during an interview, Rubio explained that US efforts are centered on dismantling key elements of Iran’s military capabilities, including its air force, naval forces, and weapons production facilities, as well as significantly reducing its missile stockpile. “All of those objectives are being met, on or ahead of schedule and should be able to achieve in a matter of weeks,” he said.

Addressing concerns over the strategic waterway, Rubio emphasized that Washington is prepared to act if Iran seeks to assert authority over it or introduce a toll system. “The president has a number of options available to him if he so chooses to prevent that from happening. … Obviously, I’m not going to discuss what those options are, and we’re not going to discuss military tactics,” he added.

The comments come amid an ongoing military campaign carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran since Feb. 28, which has reportedly resulted in more than 1,340 fatalities.

In response, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states hosting US military installations. These retaliatory actions have caused casualties, damage to infrastructure, and widespread disruption to global markets and aviation.

The conflict has also affected US forces, with at least 13 service members reported killed since the fighting began. Meanwhile, energy markets have been impacted, and shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global oil transport—has faced increasing strain.

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