US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during the Freedom 250 reception at the Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, October 20, 2026.
Kylie Cooper | Afp | Getty Images
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump wanted to resolve the Iranian war “diplomatically” and preferred not to use military force.
Speaking over the weekend, Rubio told reporters: “He (Trump) hasn’t made a decision…what the president is expressing to you is incredible confidence that if we needed to do something militarily, we would have the capability to do it, and we really have everything we need to be successful. But we would prefer to do it peacefully.”
The remarks come as reports suggest both sides are preparing for further military strikes after the midterm elections.
On Saturday, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on Tehran’s armed forces to respond to “any level or type of threat” with “an immediate, impactful response without geographic restrictions.”
He also ordered that his military database be updated so that “all kinds of physical and non-physical assets of the US-Zionist enemy are brought within the reach of the armed forces”, referring to US and Israeli forces.
Washington has not explicitly declared its intention to resume attacks on Iran, but reports from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times indicate that the United States is preparing for possible renewed military actions after the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump told the Right Side Broadcasting Network on Sunday. “We have achieved such a victory and we will put it aside very soon, one way or another.”
“Either they will make a deal or we will end it,” he added.
Iran targets British intelligence services
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday called Britain’s military intelligence a “hostile group” and accused the Royal Navy and Air Force of supporting “terrorist organizations.”
In a message posted on Telegram, the ministry said the move was a response to what it called “malicious” actions by London, including the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist organization.”
Tehran has separately accused Britain of participating in the US-Iran war by allowing US forces access to British military and logistics bases.
The UK authorized US forces to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for what was described as “defensive” strikes against Iran, according to the BBC.
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