Rubio says US economic pressure on Iran removes need for new strikes

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said economic pressure is hurting Iran severely as the United States maintains sanctions and a naval blockade.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting, Rubio said the pressure is growing each day.

He said President Donald Trump had heard similar views from allies.

Trump said on Monday that he did not plan new strikes on Iran for now.

Rubio argued that military action was unnecessary if economic pressure was achieving the same goal.

He rejected the idea that pausing military operations meant the situation was at a standstill.

Rubio said Iran had never before faced such difficulty selling energy on global markets.

The US has not said in these statements what its next steps will be.