United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the bombing campaign in Iran is expected to conclude within weeks rather than months, adding that Washington is on or ahead of schedule. Speaking after meeting counterparts from the Group of Seven in France, Rubio said the United States can meet all of its objectives without deploying ground troops and that Iran will be significantly weakened by the end of the operation.

According to Rubio, the conflict, launched jointly by the United States and Israel on February 28, could last another two to four weeks. He acknowledged that troops, including thousands of Marines and airborne soldiers, are being sent to the region to provide President Donald Trump with flexibility should conditions change. However, he stressed that ground forces are not required to achieve current military goals.

Rubio also warned that a key challenge after the fighting ends will be preventing Iran from disrupting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. He said Iran has exchanged messages with Washington but has not responded to a proposed peace plan that includes dismantling its nuclear program and limiting missile capabilities. Rubio added that there is broad international support for opposing any attempt by Iran to impose tolls on shipping through the strait.