US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Predicts Iran Conflict Will End Within Four Weeks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers meeting in Vaux-de-Cernay, France, on March 27, 2026, that the American-Israeli military operation against Iran is expected to conclude within "two to four weeks" and will not require the deployment of ground troops. Rubio, who also serves as acting National Security Advisor, arrived a day late to the two-day summit, which was convened by France as the current holder of the G7 presidency. He told reporters after the meeting that the conflict would end in "weeks, not months," and outlined the operation's stated goals as the destruction of Iran's missile, rocket, and drone manufacturing facilities, as well as its navy. President Donald Trump separately extended an ultimatum to Iran until April 6, 2026, giving Tehran additional time to allow navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation against Iran began on February 28, 2026, meaning it had been underway for 27 days at the time of the G7 meeting.

G7 allies demand civilian protection and open seas The G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for the "immediate cessation of attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure" in the Middle East and for the permanent restoration of "safe and free navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz. The declaration emerged after two days of discussions at the Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, a former monastery outside Paris. European and Canadian ministers made clear they would not participate militarily in the conflict, but indicated they could contribute to a navigation security mission once hostilities end, with sources close to the process noting that some 300 ships linked to European interests were currently blocked. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who has held the post since May 2025, said the G7 partners had discussed the issues "very thoroughly" and that there was "absolutely no disagreement" among them on the core positions. Wadephul also drew a direct link between the Iran conflict and the war in Ukraine, stating that Iran and Russia were "working extremely closely" and that the two conflicts were "closely linked." France, holding the G7 presidency, signaled it was advancing a "strictly defensive" maritime mission, with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, and French Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon reported to have contacted 35 potential partner nations from across all continents. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pledged that his country "will contribute all the necessary efforts" to ensure passage through the strait once conditions allow.

The G7 — comprising the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and Canada, along with the European Union as a non-enumerated participant — has historically served as a forum for coordinating policy among the world's leading industrialized democracies. The Strait of Hormuz has long been a focal point of geopolitical tension involving Iran, which has previously threatened to close the waterway during periods of heightened conflict with Western powers. The current military operation, designated Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli strikes that also killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was subsequently appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026.

Indirect U.S.-Iran contacts point toward Pakistan talks Wadephul disclosed that he had been informed of "indirect contacts" between Washington and Tehran, and that preparations had been made for a direct meeting "that should take place very soon in Pakistan." Rubio himself confirmed that the U.S. government had exchanged "messages and indications" with the "Iranian system" about a willingness to discuss "certain things," though he added that Washington was still "waiting for a clarification on who we will speak with in the negotiations." The disclosure of potential talks came even as Rubio pressed G7 partners to take a more active role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that European nations had far more energy transiting the waterway than the United States. „It suits you to help. The other countries get much more fuel from there than we do. Very little of our energy passes through the Strait of Hormuz. It is the world that has a great interest in that, so they should take action.” — Marco Rubio via RTVE.es European allies conditioned any participation in a Hormuz security mission on a de-escalation of the broader conflict, and pressed Rubio for detailed information on the Pentagon's reported plans to send up to 10,000 additional combat troops to the region, according to reporting cited by El Mundo. Rubio maintained that ground troops would not be necessary to achieve the operation's objectives. 20 (percent) — share of world oil supply transiting the Strait of Hormuz

Iran accuses U.S. and Israel of war crimes at UN forum On the same day the G7 communiqué was issued, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva examined allegations that the United States had bombed a girls' school in the Iranian city of Minab. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the council and accused the United States and Israel of having the "clear intention of committing genocide," calling the Minab school strike "a war crime and a crime against humanity." UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the Trump administration to conclude its investigation into the incident as quickly as possible and make the findings public. The United States has not publicly confirmed or denied responsibility for the Minab strike, and no independent verification of the incident's details was available in the source articles. Rubio, for his part, framed the broader operation in terms of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. „For these people to get nuclear weapons would be crazy. Look at what they are willing to do with the weapons they have now. They attack embassies, they attack hotels. Imagine if these radical lunatics had a nuclear weapon to threaten the world with.” — Marco Rubio via 20 minutos The G7 statement did not directly address the Minab school allegations, though its call for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure was issued on the same day the council session took place. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also attended part of the G7 session, during which European and Canadian ministers reaffirmed their support for Ukraine.

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