Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Friday that the United States is on track to achieve its military objectives in Iran within weeks, without deploying ground troops.

Rubio made the comments at Bourget Airport outside Paris after meetings with G7 foreign ministers. He said the campaign, now in its fifth week, is ahead of schedule. "We are on or ahead of schedule in that operation and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here, in a matter of weeks, not months," Rubio told reporters.

The war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military targets under Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeted air defenses, missile launchers, nuclear facilities, and other infrastructure. U.S. objectives include destroying Iran's navy, air force, missile, and drone production factories, and launchers to neutralize threats and prevent nuclear weapon development.

Rubio emphasized that Washington can meet these goals through air and naval power alone. "We can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops -- without any," he said. Recent deployments of additional U.S. troops to the region provide President Donald Trump with flexibility for contingencies, but no invasion is planned.

The conflict has caused significant damage to Iranian capabilities. U.S. and Israeli forces have destroyed over 190 ballistic missile launchers, 140 naval vessels, and key production sites. Iranian missile launches have declined by 90 percent and drone attacks by 83 percent since early March.

Casualties remain relatively low for U.S. and Israeli forces. Fifteen American service members have been killed and 313 wounded, while Israel reports four soldiers and 24 civilians dead. Iran claims thousands killed, including civilians, though U.S. figures cite over 6,000 Iranian military deaths.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases in Gulf states, Israel, and allies like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Tehran has imposed tolls in yuan on ships passing the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil flows and driving prices to $114 per barrel.

Diplomacy continues amid the fighting. Trump sent a 15-point plan to end the war through Pakistani mediators, and paused strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow talks. Iran rejected a ceasefire but sent signals of willingness to discuss terms. Rubio noted exchanges with what remains of Iran's leadership.

Postwar, Rubio urged G7 allies, especially those reliant on Gulf oil, to join efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz against any ongoing Iranian interference. "The United States is prepared to be a part of that plan," he said.

Trump has described the operations as successful, stating Iran is "being decimated" and that the war is creating a new Middle East dynamic.