No Decision Yet on New Iran Strikes Says Marco Rubio
U.S. President Donald Trump has not decided on fresh military strikes against Iran amid stalled peace talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday, October 31, 2026, thehindu.com reported.
Peace talks remain stalled as foreign ministers gather in Atlanta, Georgia, for a two-day G20 meeting hosted by the United States. Rubio addressed reporters during the summit, outlining the administration’s current military readiness and diplomatic posture.
Military Readiness in Atlanta
“We can achieve military objectives if we seek to,” Rubio told the press conference in Georgia, according to thehindu.com. He emphasized that Trump has not yet finalized a decision regarding further military action against Iran.
Reports indicate that the administration could weigh fresh strikes following key U.S. midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Rubio declined to provide an immediate timeline or confirm upcoming operational announcements.
“I have no announcement in that regard with you today, and nor do we take any of it lightly,” Rubio stated, as reported by vanguardngr.com.
Washington Criticizes Iran for Attacking Commercial Vessels
Washington has sharply criticized Tehran over maritime security. Rubio condemned the Iranian government for actively and openly targeting commercial vessels for attack in regional waters.
Despite these security concerns, the administration maintains a stated preference for a diplomatic resolution to end the conflict. However, officials have not committed to a specific schedule for renewed negotiations.
“I’m not going to characterise neither the progress on those talks nor any timeframe on it, other than to tell you that if there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it,” Rubio said, according to thehindu.com.
Iran Warns US and Israel Against New Attacks
Iran’s supreme leader issued a direct warning on Saturday, October 31, 2026, cautioning both the United States and Israel against launching new attacks in the wake of post-election threats.
President Trump previously suggested that military forces might be used to “finish them off” following the midterms.
On Thursday, October 29, 2026, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told AFP that escalation serves no party’s interests. “We are calling for a diplomatic solution, and really, escalation does not benefit anyone,” Kallas stated, according to thehindu.com.