Washinton, Aug. 26 (SANA) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told several foreign ministers from allied countries in recent days that the United States does not expect to launch new strikes on Iran for now and will focus instead on other forms of pressure, particularly economic sanctions, Axios reported Tuesday.
Citing a U.S. official and another source familiar with the matter, Axios said Rubio told several counterparts in recent calls that President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking, for now, to avoid a return to large-scale military operations against Iran while maintaining economic pressure on Tehran.
According to the sources cited by Axios, the current U.S. strategy includes tightening sanctions, maintaining the naval blockade imposed on Iran and seeking to increase oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz to global markets.
Axios reported that Washington believes its maritime measures have weakened one of Tehran’s main sources of leverage.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced Monday new sanctions targeting about 60 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels, according to the source material, with the measures aimed at increasing economic and financial pressure on Tehran.
Trump said Monday that mines had been cleared from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz and warned against attempts to lay new mines there.
The developments come as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to decline sharply. Preliminary data cited in the source material showed that only one vessel crossed the strait Monday, compared with six the previous day.
In Doha, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed regional developments by telephone Tuesday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.
Qatar News Agency (QNA), reported that the two officials discussed ongoing talks between Oman and Iran over a proposed phased framework that would establish a temporary joint navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed framework includes an agreement to carry out a joint project to clear mines from the strait, according to QNA.
Qatari Prime Minister praised Oman’s efforts and expressed Qatar’s full support for its diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening regional stability.
The two ministers reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between Qatar and Oman.
Six months after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz remains nearly paralyzed, according to the source material. Traffic by vessels carrying essential commodities has fallen by about 85 percent, while nearly 6,000 seafarers remain stranded inside the Arabian Gulf.
The disruption represents one of the largest global shipping crises in decades, according to the source material.
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Syrian Arab News Agency – SANA
The official national news agency of Syria, established on June 24, 1965. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Information and headquartered in Damascus.
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Axios: Rubio rules out new Iran strikes for now amid Hormuz crisis – سانا
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