In brief

• Rubio told G7 allies in Paris that sanctions and a US naval blockade are putting enough pressure on Iran that large-scale military operations are not needed for now.
• Trump has held off on new strikes after appeals from regional countries, though limited strikes were carried out on November 6.
• Reports suggest Washington and Tehran may be moving toward a breakthrough, but no timetable for an agreement has been set.

Sanctions and blockade seen as sufficient

Rubio made the remarks to journalists in Paris on November 10, according to Reuters. He told G7 partners that the economic pressure on Iran is extraordinary and growing each day, and that there is no need for large-scale combat operations at this stage. (Рубіо пояснив, чому США поки не планують масштабної військової операції в Ірані – Українська правда)

Regional allies back the assessment

Rubio said Trump had also received information from regional allies in the Middle East that supports this view. Earlier, the president said he planned for now to refrain from new strikes on Iran after appeals from countries in the region, including the Qatari prime minister during talks at the White House.

Limited strikes and talks signals

Trump said US forces carried out new limited strikes on Iran on Friday, November 6, targeting Iran's air defence system. Separately, media reports said the US and Iran were moving closer to a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the war, with Tehran apparently willing to discuss aspects of its nuclear programme that it had previously refused to address.

What comes next

The reports do not give a timetable for any agreement or a firm date for a resumed military campaign. The next step depends on whether the diplomatic signals from Tehran turn into formal talks.