Secretary of State Declares U.S. ‘On or Ahead of Schedule’ After G7 Meeting as Strikes Hit Uranium Facilities and Steel Plants
The Iran war took a dramatic turn on Friday as Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the conflict would end in “weeks, not months” — even as Israel launched its most provocative strikes yet against Iranian nuclear infrastructure and the Pentagon quietly drew up plans for a devastating “final blow” that could include ground troops.
Speaking to reporters after a tense meeting with G7 foreign ministers in France, Rubio said the United States was “on or ahead of schedule” in Operation Epic Fury, now entering its fourth week.
“We expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here — a matter of weeks, not months,” Rubio told the press corps in Cernay-la-Ville, outside Paris.
According to Axios, Rubio privately told his G7 counterparts the war would specifically last “two to four weeks” — a timeline that would put the end of major operations sometime in mid-April.
Israel Hits Nuclear Sites in Escalation That Threatens to Derail Diplomacy
Even as Washington talked peace, Israel was busy escalating. On Friday, U.S.-Israeli strikes slammed into at least two nuclear-related facilities deep inside Iran — the Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Markazi Province and a yellowcake uranium production facility in Ardakan, Yazd Province.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed both sites were hit but said there were no radiation leaks. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had reported no increase in off-site radiation levels at the yellowcake facility, though the agency said it would investigate further.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi fired back on social media, revealing that Israel had also struck two of Iran’s largest steel factories and a power plant.
“Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” Araghchi posted on X.
The strikes came just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that attacks would “escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens.”
Israel’s military confirmed it had targeted sites “in the heart of Tehran” where ballistic missiles and other weapons are produced, along with missile launchers and storage sites in western Iran.
Iran’s Nuclear Bomb Debate Goes Public
Perhaps the most alarming development this week isn’t happening on the battlefield — it’s happening inside Iran’s power structure.
According to Reuters, citing sources inside Iran, hardliners have dramatically intensified calls for Tehran to pursue a nuclear weapon. The debate, once taboo in public, has exploded onto state media.
The idea of quitting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — something hardliners have previously threatened but never acted on — is now being openly discussed on state television alongside calls for Iran to “go outright for the bomb.”
The U.S.-Israeli strikes, which came midway through talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, appear to have convinced Iranian strategists they have little to gain by forswearing nuclear weapons or remaining in the NPT.
Iran’s new hardline government — which took power after the February 28 strikes killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and other top officials — has claimed it has one million fighters ready for a U.S. ground invasion.
Pentagon’s ‘Final Blow’: Four Options on Trump’s Desk
While Rubio insists no ground troops are needed, the Pentagon is telling a very different story behind closed doors.
Axios reported this week that military planners have drawn up four options for a “final blow” against Iran, all of which could involve the deployment of up to 10,000 ground troops:
Option 1: Seize Kharg Island — Iran’s primary oil export hub, through which the vast majority of its crude flows. An invasion or naval blockade would cripple Iran’s ability to fund its war effort.
Option 2: Invade Larak Island — A strategic outpost that helps Iran monitor and threaten maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Option 3: Seize Abu Musa and the Tunb Islands — Iranian-controlled islands near the western entrance of the Strait, equipped with missile, drone, and mine-laying capabilities.
Option 4: Naval blockade — Intercept and seize ships exporting Iranian oil, strangling Tehran’s revenue without a full ground invasion.
Two contingents of thousands of Marines are already en route, with the first expected to arrive by the end of March aboard an amphibious assault ship. Thousands of elite airborne soldiers are also expected to deploy.
Trump’s Deadline Game: Extended Again
President Trump on Thursday extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz from March 27 to April 6, pushing back for the second time what he had threatened would trigger attacks on Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure.
Trump has framed each extension as a diplomatic gesture, insisting Tehran wants “to make a deal.” But Iran has repeatedly denied that any direct talks are taking place.
A 15-point proposal was reportedly sent to Tehran via Pakistan two days ago. The demands are sweeping: dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had not yet decided whether to respond, and that continuing strikes while seeking negotiations was “intolerable.”
Rubio warned that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open would remain an “immediate challenge” even after U.S. military objectives are achieved, and urged European and Asian nations to contribute to securing free passage.
The War by the Numbers: One Month In
As Operation Epic Fury enters its second month, the toll continues to mount:
• U.S. casualties: At least 6 service members killed in action, over 300 wounded
• Iranian missile capability: Only about one-third of Iran’s missiles and drones have been destroyed, according to sources cited by Reuters
• U.S. regional presence: Nearly 60,000 military personnel deployed to the region
• Strait of Hormuz: Remains effectively blockaded, disrupting roughly 20% of global oil shipments
• Oil prices: Surging, with energy experts comparing the crisis to the 1970s oil shocks
• Trump approval: Hit a new low of 36% as fuel prices spike
What Comes Next
The next 48-72 hours could prove pivotal. Iran’s response to the 15-point U.S. proposal could come at any moment. The April 6 Hormuz deadline looms. And with Marines arriving in the region within days, the window for diplomacy is closing fast.
Rubio’s “weeks not months” promise will be tested against the reality of a conflict that, one month in, shows few signs of the quick resolution Washington had hoped for. Iran continues to launch daily missile barrages at Israel, strike at Gulf Arab nations and shipping, and maintain its stranglehold on the world’s most important energy chokepoint.
The question isn’t just whether the U.S. can win — it’s what “winning” even looks like against an adversary that’s now openly debating going nuclear.
This is a breaking news article and will be updated as the situation develops. Sources: Reuters, AP News, The New York Times, CNN, BBC News, The Guardian, Axios, Euronews, Forbes.