'Outrageous and ridiculous': US warns Iran of fresh attacks, rejects Tehran's ceasefire terms

Top American officials are locked in a fierce internal debate over the ongoing war with Iran, even as the military conflict enters its ninth month and ripples across global energy markets. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly defended President Donald Trump's decision to launch military action against Iran, insisting the war was essential to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, even if it proved deeply unpopular with voters. 

Speaking in Florida on Sunday before departing for a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting in Paris, Rubio directly addressed the political storm back home. The war, now more than eight months old, has led to severe disruptions in global oil supplies, driving up fuel prices worldwide and hitting household budgets from America to Asia.

"He addressed it even though oftentimes the right thing to do for the country — confronting difficult challenges for the security of our country — doing it isn’t necessarily popular, but necessary," Rubio said, referring to Trump's rationale for entering the conflict.

Election defeat sparks sharp conflict inside Washington

The political fallout from the war erupted into the open following Tuesday's US mid-term elections, where voters delivered a heavy defeat to the ruling Republican Party. High inflation, rising gasoline prices, and general economic pain allowed the opposition Democratic Party to seize control of the US Congress.

The election loss triggered a rare public rift between key leaders in Washington. Vice President JD Vance posted on social media last week, placing the blame for the electoral defeat squarely on the unpopularity of the war. Rubio, who along with Vance is widely viewed as a contender for the 2028 presidential race, pushed back by maintaining that national security had to take precedence over electoral popularity.

President Trump weighed in on Sunday, attempting to bridge the gap between his top two lieutenants. Trump noted that Vance was correct about the election's outcome, but added that his vice president should have publicly stood by the decision to strike Iran.

"I can tell you if I had it to do again, this historically — for history — will go down as one of the best things we ever did," Trump stated. "Because if they ever had a nuclear weapon, they would blow up the world."

While the White House maintains that Iran is pursuing a nuclear arsenal, Tehran has consistently insisted its atomic programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes. However, official data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) shows Iran currently holds 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity. Nuclear experts note this concentration is only a short technical step away from the 90 per cent purity required for weapons-grade material.

New American task force targets Iranian land routes

As the political dispute continues in Washington, the US military is tightening its pressure on Iran's economy and military supply chains. On Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, a specialised 20-member team of civilian and military personnel based in Florida.

This new task force is designed to build upon the existing US naval blockade of Iranian ports, expanding operations to cover Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. According to CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper, the unit will coordinate across US government agencies to stop the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technology, sanctioned materials, and illegal financial streams.

CENTCOM revealed that the naval blockade, which was expanded in August under an "economic asphyxiation" campaign, has already prevented Iran from exporting over $25 billion in crude oil. Washington launched the campaign in response to Iranian naval forces targeting merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital shipping lane through which one-fifth of the world's daily oil supply passed before the war began.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump hailed the new initiative: "Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Coupled with history's greatest Naval Blockade, very little gets into, or out of, Iran!"

Iran's military establishment quickly rejected the effectiveness of the American strategy. Hossein Mohebi, spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated via the Fars news agency that Washington's economic campaign would fail to crush Tehran.

"The United States will never be able to impose the economic blockade it is pursuing and proposing under various names and through different plans," Mohebi said, adding that Washington would be "powerless to block" trade and communication links between Iran and its neighbouring nations.

Diplomatic talks stall over strict ceasefire demands

Despite the escalation in economic and military pressure, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain deadlocked. Mediators from Qatar have been attempting to broker a breakthrough by presenting fresh negotiation proposals to both sides.

However, Rubio struck a cautious tone regarding the prospects of peace, clarifying that negotiators are not on the verge of a breakthrough. He pointed out that while Trump prefers a diplomatic resolution, recent discussions have yielded little progress due to Tehran's extensive demands.

Rubio described Iran's terms as "not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic."

According to officials, Iran is refusing to discuss its nuclear activities until Washington agrees to five core ceasefire conditions:

• Complete termination of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
• Immediate removal of all economic sanctions against Tehran.
• Full unfreezing of Iranian assets held abroad.
• Financial compensation from Washington for war damage suffered by Iran.
• An end to all US and allied military operations in the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Military strikes persist alongside warnings of further destruction

While diplomatic channels remain frozen, limited military engagements are actively taking place. Over the past week, US forces carried out at least two strikes against Iranian air defence systems. On Saturday, US naval forces fired upon and disabled a commercial vessel that attempted to break through the blockade on Iranian ports.

Rubio reiterated America's right to act militarily if threatened, noting: "If there’s a clear and present threat to shipping or to our forces in the region, we have a right to defend ourselves."

Trump offered a mixed outlook on potential future escalation during a phone interview with CNN on Sunday. He explained that if ongoing talks produce a "strong agreement" that secures American objectives, further US bombing runs would be "highly unlikely."

However, Trump warned that the US military has already selected 38 key infrastructure targets, including major bridges across Iran, which will be bombed immediately if formal military operations resume.

The ongoing stalemate in the Middle East leaves global fuel supplies vulnerable to further price shocks as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted and military action continues.