Washington, March 3 (NationPress) The United States has devised a strategy to tackle escalating oil prices and safeguard international shipping routes as it intensifies its offensive against Iran’s missile capabilities and naval strength, stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the US Capitol.

Rubio noted that the markets were responding to developments in the area but emphasized that Washington had foreseen the consequences.

“Indeed, we recognized that this would be a significant factor,” he told the media when queried about the surging oil prices. “We have a strategy in place. We anticipated this could emerge as a concern.”

He mentioned that Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would commence “implementing those measures starting tomorrow to alleviate the impact that might arise.”

Rubio cautioned that Iran’s naval power poses a broader danger to global commerce. “This terrorist regime, led by radical clerics, has the potential to disrupt 20 percent of global energy supplies. That’s the leverage they possess due to their navy. We will dismantle their naval forces,” he asserted.

He characterized the US mission as narrowly targeted yet urgent. “The United States is engaged in an operation aimed at neutralizing the threat from Iran's short-range ballistic missiles and the dangers posed by their navy, particularly to maritime assets,” Rubio stated.

According to Rubio, intelligence reports suggested an “imminent danger” if Iran was attacked. “There was absolutely an imminent threat,” he contended, arguing that had Washington delayed action, “we would incur greater casualties and more fatalities.”

He outlined that the goal was to obliterate Iran’s missile launch capabilities, production facilities, and drone reserves, alongside naval assets that threaten shipping. “This mission aims to eliminate their ballistic missile and naval capabilities,” Rubio indicated.

Rubio emphasized that the operation was not intended as a campaign for regime change, although he expressed hope for political transformation in Tehran. “We would welcome an Iran that isn’t ruled by radical Shia clerics,” he remarked, adding that the current mission centers on weaponry, not governance.

He stated that the United States had no plans to deploy ground forces at this time. “We believe the objectives we’ve established for this mission, which include dismantling the ballistic missile capabilities, can be achieved without ground troops,” Rubio mentioned, specifying that the administration was “not positioned for ground forces” at this moment.

Regarding reports of civilian casualties, including allegations of a strike on a school, Rubio admitted he lacked details but affirmed that the United States “would not intentionally target a school.”

He refrained from predicting the length of the conflict. “We will pursue this until we fulfill our objectives, and we will accomplish those objectives,” Rubio declared.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint, carries a significant portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Any disruption in this area has immediate global price repercussions, particularly for major energy importers like India.