Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, told G7 foreign ministers in Paris on 10 November that Washington will keep imposing "devastating" economic costs on Iran, according to four G7 diplomats who spoke to Reuters anonymously. The report, carried by TimesLive and TRT World, is the first account of what he said inside the meeting.
One of the diplomats told Reuters: "Rubio said that they will continue with ... (imposing) devastating economic operating costs on Iran."
The diplomats say Rubio told ministers the US has options beyond resuming the war or accepting unacceptable Iranian demands. He also said the current sanctions policy is working and limits Tehran's ability to fund its regional activities and proxies, according to the diplomats. That claim has not been independently checked.
Two of the diplomats said he called Iran's leaders "lunatics". One said Rubio, the White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, back keeping heavy economic pressure on Iran.
None of these accounts has been confirmed on the record.