Rubio says Iran offensive ‘has concluded,’ insists US accomplished its operational aims
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists the American military offensive against Iran is over and that Washington is now focused on using non-kinetic means to coax Tehran to give up its nuclear ambitions.
“Operation Epic Fury has concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” Rubio says during a press conference.
Pressed on how the US can claim victory if Iran has refused to give up its enrichment capabilities and stockpiles of highly-enriched uranium, Rubio claims the goal of the war was to remove the “conventional shield” Iran was trying to produce using ballistic missiles in order to block countries from acting against its nuclear program.
While Iran’s missile program was indeed significantly hit, intelligence agencies reportedly assess that it remains intact and with the ability to recover.
Rubio says the US focus has shifted to clearing the Strait of Hormuz with Operation Project Freedom.
Meanwhile, the US still seeks a deal with Iran that addresses its enriched uranium stockpile.
He argues that US economic pressure against Iran can work, even though Tehran appears to have a high pain tolerance.
“There has to be a pressure point on them that causes them to realize they cannot continue to close the straits or they’ll face crushing economic consequences and global diplomatic isolation, which they have proven in the past to be susceptible to,” Rubio asserts.
“They have a high pain threshold, but they don’t have an unlimited pain threshold. Nobody does,” he argues.