Secretary of State Rubio: US Military Operations in Iran to End Within Weeks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that U.S. military operations in Iran are expected to conclude within weeks, not months, as fighting continues across the Middle East. The conflict has wounded American personnel, disrupted global energy supplies, and caused oil prices to surge over 50%.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Saturday that the United States anticipates wrapping up its military campaign in Iran within weeks rather than months, as Israeli forces reported striking targets in Tehran while defending against incoming Iranian missiles.

The ongoing conflict took a toll on American forces Friday when an Iranian assault on a Saudi Arabian air base left 12 U.S. service members wounded, with two sustaining serious injuries, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters. Drone and missile attacks have persisted throughout the Gulf region.

The military campaign, which began a month ago with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, has now expanded throughout the Middle East, resulting in thousands of casualties and creating unprecedented disruptions to global energy markets. The crisis has sent shockwaves through the world economy and sparked concerns about rising inflation.

Speaking to media following discussions with Group of Seven officials in France, Rubio stated that Washington was “on or ahead of schedule in that operation, and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here — a matter of weeks, not months.”

Israeli military officials confirmed they were conducting operations across Iran’s capital city while simultaneously detecting missile launches from Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, who had previously targeted shipping lanes with missile strikes, have largely remained out of the current conflict.

However, Houthi representatives indicated Friday their willingness to enter the fighting under specific circumstances, particularly if additional nations join the U.S.-Israeli alliance or if the Red Sea becomes a staging area for attacks against Iran.

The war has created tension between the United States and its longtime allies, who have chosen not to participate in the military action. President Donald Trump suggested this lack of support could affect NATO commitments, the cornerstone of Western defense cooperation.

“We would have always been there for them, but now, based on their actions, I guess we don’t have to be, do we?” Trump remarked during an investment conference in Miami Friday. “Why would we be there for them if they’re not there for us? They weren’t there for us.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s founding principles establish that an assault on any member nation constitutes an attack on all members, requiring mutual defense support.

Rubio emphasized that European and Asian nations benefiting from commerce through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway now largely controlled by Iran—should contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage for international trade.

While Rubio maintained that Washington could accomplish its objectives without deploying ground forces, he confirmed some troops were being positioned in the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge.”

The Pentagon has ordered two Marine contingents, numbering in the thousands, to deploy to the area. The first group is scheduled to arrive shortly aboard a massive amphibious assault vessel. Military officials also plan to send thousands of specialized airborne troops.

These troop movements have intensified worries that the conflict could evolve into an extended ground war.

Financial markets plummeted Friday as Brent crude oil prices climbed above $112 per barrel, representing more than a 50% increase since hostilities began.

Within the United States, where Trump faces political pressure over rising fuel costs, diesel prices in California reached a record average of $7.17 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

Trump has signaled his desire to end the increasingly unpopular war, highlighting this week what he described as promising diplomatic negotiations—despite Tehran’s repeated denials that any such discussions have commenced. On Thursday, Trump granted Iran an additional 10-day extension to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes against its civilian energy infrastructure.

At least five people died and seven others were injured in a U.S.-Israeli attack on a residential building in Iran’s northwestern city of Zanjan, Iranian media reported early Saturday. The Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran was also targeted, according to media accounts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media that Israel, working with U.S. coordination, had also struck two steel manufacturing facilities and a power plant. “Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” Araqchi wrote Friday.

Israel’s military reported Saturday that it had identified incoming missiles from Iran, while Syrian state television documented explosions heard over Damascus as Israeli defense systems intercepted the Iranian projectiles.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also experienced missile attacks in the early hours Saturday.