Meanwhile, a US official informed Reuters that an Iranian assault on a Saudi Arabian airbase resulted in severe injuries to two US military personnel and left another 10 wounded. The Gulf region continues to experience drone and missile strikes.
Rubio, addressing reporters in France after meeting with G7 counterparts, stated that the US operation is “on or ahead of schedule” and should wrap up in weeks, not months.
He mentioned that while the US could achieve its objectives without ground forces, some troops are being sent to the region to provide the president with maximum flexibility to adapt to any developing situations.
During discussions with G7 foreign ministers, Rubio highlighted the potential for Iran to impose shipping tolls through the Strait of Hormuz post-conflict. He suggested that European and Asian nations benefiting from trade via this waterway should help ensure free passage and downplayed US reliance on this trade route.
MARINES EN ROUTE
The US has deployed two groups of thousands of Marines to the area, with the first contingent expected to arrive by the end of March on an amphibious assault ship. The Pentagon also plans to send thousands of elite airborne soldiers.
These military deployments have sparked concerns about the possibility of the war, initiated by the US and Israel on February 28 with airstrikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader and other officials, escalating into a long ground conflict.
Iran’s counterattacks on US and Israeli targets and civilian areas in Gulf Arab nations have disrupted global trade in energy and other commodities, heightening fears of rising prices and economic recession.
President Donald Trump has shown a desire to end the unpopular war, emphasizing what he described as productive negotiations for a diplomatic resolution, despite Tehran’s claims that no talks have commenced.
On Thursday, Trump extended a deadline by 10 days for Iran to reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its civilian energy infrastructure.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, expressed hope for upcoming meetings with Iran and anticipated an Iranian response to Trump’s 15-point peace proposal soon.
Witkoff outlined clear US demands, including an end to Iran’s uranium enrichment and relinquishment of its enriched stockpiles.
NEW STRIKES ON IRAN, ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA
Late on Friday, Iranian media reported attacks on its decommissioned nuclear research reactor and a yellowcake uranium facility, with no radiation leaks reported.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed no off-site radiation level changes at the yellowcake facility and plans to investigate further.
Reports also indicated an attack on the Bushehr nuclear plant, with no casualties or significant damage.
Five people died, and seven were injured in a US-Israeli attack on a residential area in Zanjan, Iran, according to Iranian media.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel, supported by the US, of targeting two steel factories and a power plant, warning of severe retaliation for these actions.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran is undecided on responding to the US proposal sent earlier in the week following attacks on its industrial and nuclear sites.
The US proposal, communicated via Pakistan, reportedly demands the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and control over a crucial energy trade route.
The conflict has spread across the Middle East, resulting in thousands of deaths and severely disrupting energy supplies, causing global economic concerns due to rising oil, gas, and fertilizer prices.
Maria Martinez from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported that over 1,900 people have died, and at least 20,000 have been injured in Iran.
Hezbollah attacks on Israel have led to an Israeli military response, displacing a significant portion of Lebanon’s population.
The Israeli military reported late on Friday that Iran launched missiles toward Israel, killing a 60-year-old man in Tel Aviv.
A US official told Reuters that an Iranian missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan airbase injured 12 US military personnel, two seriously, while the Wall Street Journal noted damage to several refueling aircraft.
These recent injuries add to the over 300 US military members wounded since the conflict began, with 273 having returned to duty. Thirteen US soldiers have died in the conflict.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis declared readiness to intervene militarily under specific conditions, such as new allies joining the US and Israel against Iran or the use of the Red Sea for attacks on Iran.
IRAN STILL POSSESSES MISSILES
The US, seeking to neutralize Iran’s long-range strike capabilities, can confirm that only about a third of Iran’s missile arsenal has been destroyed, according to five US intelligence sources.
Amid escalating damage and uncertainty, Gulf Arab states urge the US to ensure any agreement ends the war and permanently limits Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, safeguarding global energy supplies.
Stock markets saw a sharp decline on Friday, while Brent crude oil prices surged above $112, increasing over 50% since the conflict started.
In the US, political concerns over rising fuel prices are evident, with diesel in California reaching a record high of $7.17 per gallon, as reported by the American Automobile Association.
