Marco Rubio says Trump leaves Iran diplomacy open while weighing military options

The United States has set no strict deadline for diplomatic negotiations with Iran, but potential military action remains on the table, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking after a gathering of Group of 20 foreign ministers in Atlanta, Georgia, Rubio stated that President Donald Trump would favor a negotiated resolution to current hostilities while maintaining the capability to strike if deemed necessary.

Rubio noted that he was unaware of any defined schedule for mediation efforts spearheaded by Qatar. While expressing openness to an agreement, he emphasized that any acceptable deal must fully protect American security priorities and address key issues of concern to Washington. He added that Trump has not committed to additional military strikes, but maintained that American forces possess the required assets to achieve their objectives should armed conflict resume.

Rubio accused Iranian authorities of threatening regional energy infrastructure and commercial maritime routes to gain negotiating leverage against the United States. He reported that American units are engaged almost daily in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones launched toward vessels operating in nearby waters, though he expressed frustration over what he described as inadequate assistance from international allies in safeguarding maritime corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz.

The Secretary of State confirmed that Washington remains dedicated to existing defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, but declined to comment on whether American personnel would participate in offensive actions against Houthi forces in Yemen.

The two-day G20 ministerial conference in Atlanta exposed friction among member states regarding Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The United States, which currently holds the group's presidency before handing it to the United Kingdom next year, faced pushback for hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and extending an invitation to President Vladimir Putin for a leaders' gathering in Florida this December.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that engaging Putin risks validating Russian aggression and normalizing wartime conduct. Rubio defended the contact, arguing that bringing Moscow into diplomatic discussions is an unavoidable requirement for reaching a peaceful, negotiated end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Disagreements among participants prevented the publication of a unified joint communique, leading Rubio to issue an individual chairman's statement instead. A traditional group photograph was also abandoned following objections from several Western representatives unwilling to appear alongside Lavrov. Rubio's concluding statement focused on stabilizing international energy transit and maritime security, while omitting direct references to Russia or the war in Ukraine.