Rubio says Trump prefers diplomatic solution in Iran war

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump still prefers diplomacy in dealing with Iran, even as the war enters a more dangerous and politically complicated stage.

Rubio said messages and discussions between Washington and Tehran are continuing largely through intermediaries, suggesting that backchannel communication remains active despite weeks of military escalation. He said Trump has always favored diplomacy if it can produce results.

He also accused Iran of spending its national wealth on support for Hezbollah, Hamas and armed groups in Iraq, while threatening neighboring countries instead of pursuing regional stability. His remarks reflect the administration’s continued effort to frame military pressure as part of a broader political strategy.

Rubio added that Washington would accept a future scenario in which Iran is led by figures with a different vision, signaling that the United States still sees political transformation in Tehran as a possible strategic outcome. That language is likely to sharpen Iranian suspicions about Washington’s long-term intentions.

The comments come as the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran moves into its second month, with repeated strikes on military, intelligence and infrastructure targets and a rising death toll among senior Iranian commanders and officials.

At the same time, indirect diplomacy has not fully stopped. Recent reporting from NPR and other outlets has indicated that Pakistan has continued to play a role in relaying messages between the two sides, even as both governments publicly maintain hardline positions.

This dual-track approach, military escalation alongside mediated diplomacy, has become a defining feature of the current crisis. Analysts say Washington appears to be trying to weaken Iran’s leverage on the battlefield while still preserving an off-ramp for negotiations.

Meanwhile, Rubio’s remarks suggest that while the threat of further escalation remains very real, the United States is still trying to keep the door open to a negotiated outcome. Whether Tehran sees that as a genuine offer or battlefield pressure in diplomatic language remains uncertain.

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