World

Rubio: Trump Has Not Decided on New Iran Strikes Amid Stalled Talks

By AFP

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to launch new strikes on Iran, even as peace talks remain stalled. Speaking at a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was hosting G20 foreign ministers for a two‑day meeting, Rubio noted that the United States could achieve military objectives if it chose to do so. However, he added that Trump has not made a decision on further military action, amid reports that the president could attack after key midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. "I have no announcement in that regard with you today, and nor do we take any of it lightly," Rubio said.

Rubio criticized Tehran for "actively and openly" targeting commercial vessels, while also saying that Trump prefers a diplomatic solution to end the war with Iran. He did not commit to a timeline for talks, stating, "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."

On the same day, Iran’s supreme leader warned the United States and Israel against launching new attacks, following threats to resume strikes after the crucial elections. Trump had earlier warned of the potential for fresh military action after the U.S. midterms, saying he was weighing whether to "finish them off." Any further attack would raise concerns among U.S. allies.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking to AFP on Thursday, October 29, 2026, said, "We are calling for a diplomatic solution, and really, escalation does not benefit anyone."