Marco Rubio Estimates Remaining Timeline Of Iran War

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers on Friday that the war against Iran would last approximately two to four more weeks.

“When we are done with them here in the next couple weeks, they will be weaker than they’ve been in recent history,” Rubio told reporters, according to The Guardian.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 Foreign Ministers during a meeting on Friday that the United States was close to holding serious negotiations with Iran, but added that the war will continue for another two to four weeks, three sources with direct knowledge tell Axios. pic.twitter.com/W7mg0KCbBQ

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 27, 2026

The Guardian has more:

US officials have given conflicting signals about how long they anticipate continuing their joint offensive with Israel against Iran, which began with a surprise strike on 28 February that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Iran remains defiant, and has denied Donald Trump’s claims that talks are “going well”, saying no negotiations are taking place.

In the Lebanese capital, Beirut, a pre-dawn Israeli strike killed two people, according to local authorities, while barrages of Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel.

“Despite the warnings, the firing continues,” Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said. “And therefore attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens.”

Israel’s most recent strikes targeted nuclear facilities in Iran on Friday, possibly in an attempt to hit what are seen as strategically important targets before the White House forces Israel to halt or reduce sorties.

Ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open to shipping is another challenge the administration faces, the outlet noted.

According to Axios, one source stated that Rubio wants U.S. allies to join a maritime task force to help patrol the waterway after the war ends.

However, he stressed the U.S. doesn’t need help from G7 countries to reopen the strait.

“Rubio said that the U.S. will need us in the next phase to escort ships or just to have an international presence in the Strait of Hormuz to show the Iranians they don’t control the strait. Everyone agreed,” the source said, Axios noted.

“These countries have a lot at stake, not just the G7 countries, but countries in Asia and all over the world have a lot at stake and should contribute greatly to that effort to ensure that neither the Straits of Hormuz or frankly any international waterways should ever be something that’s controlled or told by a nation state or by a terroristic government like the one that exists in Iran today in that radical clerical regime,” Rubio said.

Watch below:

🚨 JUST IN: Sec. Marco Rubio just MADE CLEAR to G7 "allies" that they MUST step in and help secure the Strait of Hormuz

"They want to set up a TOLLING system in the Strait of Hormuz. Not only is this ILLEGAL, it's unacceptable, it's DANGERS to the world, and it's important that… pic.twitter.com/G22yWfSMXX

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 27, 2026

Backup here if needed:

Axios shared further:

In a press gaggle after the G7 meeting, Rubio said the U.S. expects the war to end within “weeks and not months.”

He also said the U.S. is waiting for clarification on who would represent Iran in potential peace talks.

Vice President Vance is likely to lead the U.S. delegation if talks take place, though President Trump has said Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are all involved in the diplomatic efforts.

Rubio also said one reason allies need to step up and ensure freedom of navigation in the strait after the war is that Iran wants to demand a toll from any ship that passes through.