Rubio says sanctions instead of new strikes against Iran for now: Axios

The US is not expected to initiate any new strikes against Iran “for the time being”, focusing instead on other means of pressure, including sanctions announced this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told several of his foreign counterparts, according to a report by Axios.

As per the report, in phone calls with foreign ministers from several allied countries, Rubio chalked out the alternatives ways being mulled to ramp up pressure on Iran.

These include Avoiding military action against Iran for the time being increasing economic pressure through a US naval blockade and a new Treasury Department sanctions push, alongside transporting as much oil as possible through the strait into global energy markets.

"The Iranian economy is in free fall and the regime's military has been decimated," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Axios, "and we are cutting off every financial lifeline the regime has remaining."

"The President has been clear that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and that he will use the tools necessary to ensure that objective is accomplished," he added.

Another US official, highlighting the “large volumes of oil being transported out of the strait”, said, “Right now we are not negotiating with Iran. We are squeezing them. The pressure could drive the Iranians back to the table.”

Furthermore, Axios cites another US official as saying the military option would be off the table until at least after the midterm elections in the first week of November.

Rubio reportedly believes that the US is suffocating Iran with the naval blockade.

Although major combat operations are ruled out for now, the US will strike if Iran attacks first, Rubio is believed to have told his counterparts.

The Axios report also cites another US official, who believes that by clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s main source of leverage has been neutralised.

“The Iranians have lost control over the strait. Now the US controls it," one US official told Axios.

Al Arabiya, a Saudi-affiliated TV station earlier reported that before the Tehran visit by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Sunday for talks with the Iranian leadership, he had spoken to Trump and suggested a new proposal for the Iranians.

It should be noted that Pakistan has been attempting to broker peace between the two nations.

Earlier on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had announced that the US will impose punishing sanctions on countries and entities that do business with Iran.

Dubbing it "Operation Economic Outcast," Bessent at a press conference said, "Let there be no ambiguity as to the position of the United States. An economic engagement of any kind with this murderous regime will expose those responsible to the full reach of American power."

He, however, did not give a deadline for compliance.

Following Bessent's announcement, China – which  accounts for more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments –  said its cooperation with Iran has always taken place within the framework of international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China-Iran cooperation “should not be disrupted or undermined.”

He also said Beijing would closely monitor developments and take necessary steps to protect its interests, while reiterating China's opposition to what it considers “illegal unilateral sanctions.”