Washington, March 31, (NationPress) The United States anticipates finalizing its military objectives regarding Iran "within weeks, rather than months," stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He detailed Washington's stipulations for concluding the conflict and cautioned Tehran against exerting control over vital international waterways.

In a recent interview with Al Jazeera on Monday (local time), Rubio revealed that there had been "communications and some direct discussions occurring between certain factions within Iran and the United States, primarily facilitated through intermediaries," even as military operations persist.

He emphasized that Washington's fundamental requirements remain constant: "Iran can never— the Iranian regime must not acquire nuclear weapons, must cease its sponsorship of terrorism, and must halt the development of weaponry that poses threats to neighboring countries."

Rubio asserted that US forces are "well on track or ahead of schedule" in fulfilling their objectives, which include dismantling Iran’s air force and navy, as well as significantly reducing the number of missile launchers at their disposal.

"We will accomplish these objectives... in weeks, not months," he affirmed.

The secretary underscored that any Iranian efforts to assert dominance over the Strait of Hormuz would be intolerable.

"No nation globally can accept such a scenario," he remarked, warning that such a claim could set a troubling precedent for other countries to assert control over international waterways.

"The United States will not tolerate that situation. It's an unlawful demand they are making. That will simply not occur," Rubio added.

He indicated that the strait "will remain accessible, one way or another," either through Iranian adherence to international law or through action taken by an allied coalition of nations.

Rubio also accused Iran of targeting civilian and economic infrastructures across the region, stating, "They have assaulted embassies, diplomatic establishments... airports... energy systems," labeling these actions as "unprecedented."

Characterizing Iran as "the weakest it has been in a decade," he contended that degrading its military capability now is crucial to avert more significant threats in the future.

On diplomacy, Rubio asserted that Tehran must take "visible actions to abandon any ambitions for nuclear weapons" and renounce missile and drone programs.

"If they undertake these actions, then Iran’s future could be promising," he said, while acknowledging that the regime had "rejected that course for decades."

He expressed disappointment with certain NATO allies, noting the denial of airspace and base access during the military operation.

"If NATO is merely about our defense of Europe... but then denies us base rights when we need them, that’s not an effective arrangement," he remarked, signifying that the alliance would need to be "reassessed."

Rubio declared that US objectives do not encompass regime change but acknowledged that Washington would not oppose a change in leadership in Iran if it were to occur.

"That was not the goal of this operation," he stated.