Rubio Rules Out Further US Military Action Against Iran as Economic Pressure Continues
Key Facts
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out the need for further US military action against Iran, citing the economic damage being inflicted on the Islamic Republic. The Associated Press quoted Rubio on Friday as saying, "The economic damage the United States is inflicting on Iran, a weakened Islamic republic, is so significant that any further US military action is unnecessary." The statement puts economic pressure at the forefront of Washington’s stated approach for now. But it does not rule out a shift if circumstances change: President Donald Trump said US forces are ready to act if needed. The remarks come as the US naval blockade continues and positions remain far apart over the terms for resuming talks.
Trump earlier in the week described the war as "militarily over, effectively," according to the Associated Press, signaling that Washington views the ongoing operations as having moved beyond the peak of the confrontation. At the same time, he said military action "doesn't seem necessary," adding that US forces are "ready and armed to go for any reason that changes the situation." Taken together, the statements keep the military option available while favoring the current course as long as pressure achieves its aims. The agency reported that thousands of US troops remained in waters off Iran as part of a naval blockade aimed at limiting the flow of Iranian oil to global markets. That makes the security of sea lanes and energy supplies part of the confrontation’s context, although the available information includes no documented price move for the day.
Washington’s stated approach relies on pressure on Iran’s oil exports and economy, while the confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz and terms for negotiations continues. An analyst quoted by the Associated Press said he expected the status quo to persist for some time, with Washington and Tehran deadlocked over the strait and the US naval blockade continuing to limit Iranian crude’s access to the global market. Trump tied ruling out a resumption of strikes to progress in negotiations and the signing of a strong agreement, saying a resumption was "highly unlikely" as long as talks were advancing and a strong deal was signed. But the president also said the United States had identified infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, that could be struck if military action resumed. The remarks show that the stated de-escalation is conditional on negotiations continuing, while the option of strikes remains part of Washington’s messaging.
Tehran is holding to conditions that must be met before nuclear talks begin, according to the Associated Press. They include ending the US blockade of its ports, lifting sanctions, releasing its assets and compensating it for war damages. Iran also told the International Atomic Energy Agency that discussions on monitoring its nuclear program could not continue while it faced military threats. Its envoy to the United Nations warned the Security Council that any renewed fighting would be met with a response "targeting the source of the aggression, wherever it may be." Meanwhile, the US military said it shot down two Iranian drones headed for Bahrain on November 13, 2026, and denied claims that a US radar system there had been targeted. These developments add to signs of continued security tensions alongside diplomatic efforts, without resolving whether negotiations will overcome disputes over the blockade, sanctions and guarantees.
In the regional context, the Times of Israel reported on November 11, 2026, citing Western intelligence assessments, that Iran produces 50 ballistic missiles a month, about half its prewar capacity. The newspaper said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced a display of a new underground missile city, housing ballistic and cruise missiles and their launch systems, according to Tasnim News Agency. Missile capabilities remain part of the risk calculations surrounding any renewed fighting, while this assessment alone does not establish readiness for an imminent attack or a US decision to resume operations. Separately, Axios reported on November 13 that Mossad chief Roman Gofman was in Washington for talks with senior Trump administration officials about the war, citing three people familiar with the matter. The outlet added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pressuring Trump to resume the war, as the US administration continued its blockade and economic pressure while keeping the possibility of an agreement open.