Politics · Singapore Bureau
US committed to escalating economic pressure on Iran, Rubio tells G7
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured fellow G7 foreign ministers that Washington will maintain its campaign of severe economic sanctions against Iran. Rubio indicated the US has diplomatic and economic options beyond military intervention or concessions to Tehran.
LSN Singapore ·
During talks with G7 foreign ministers in Paris on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined Washington's approach to Iran, emphasizing that the United States would continue imposing what he described as "devastating" economic costs on the Islamic Republic, according to four diplomats present at the discussions.
Rubio's remarks signal the Trump administration's intent to leverage sanctions as a primary tool in its Iran policy, presenting economic pressure as a middle ground between military confrontation and accepting what US officials view as unacceptable demands from Tehran.
The statement comes as tensions between the US and Iran remain elevated, with the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers having effectively collapsed in recent years. The G7 discussions underscored ongoing divisions among Western allies over how to manage their relationships with Iran and counter what they view as destabilizing Iranian activities across the Middle East.
US officials have previously indicated their preference for using targeted economic measures to constrain Iran's regional influence and nuclear ambitions. The comments from Paris suggest this approach will remain central to American policy under the current administration.