Rubio Signals Washington Is Open To A Diplomatic Resolution Of The Iran Conflict As Midterms Loom

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that, although the U.S. is prepared for a resumption of full hostilities, Washington would prefer to secure a diplomatic solution to its conflict with Tehran.

"Talks [between the U.S. and Iran] have actually never stopped. There's been active conversations ... in some cases directly but often through intermediaries and the president's preference in any challenge around the world is to try to solve it diplomatically and peacefully if possible," Rubio told reporters while speaking at a press conference in Atlanta, where the U.S. has been hosting the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting over the course of Friday and Saturday.

President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that hostilities would soon end, telling Kansas City radio station KCMO: "It's going to get wrapped up soon."

Trump did not, however, indicate whether that imminent resolution to the conflict would be achieved through peaceful or military means.

There have been recent reports of Qatari mediators making progress in negotiations on proposals that could see Tehran allow international inspectors into its country in exchange for relief from U.S. sanctions.

Iran is expected to provide a response to the latest changes to the proposals this weekend.

Rubio nevertheless indicated that the U.S. remains prepared for the prospect of military escalation: "We can achieve military objectives if we seek to. He [Trump] hasn't made a decision ... if we needed to do something military, we would have the ability to do it ... but we would prefer to do it peacefully," the U.S.'s top diplomat added.

Iran is also preparing for the potential of renewed conflict, with Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warning the U.S. and Israel on Saturday not to restart strikes.

"If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for ending them," the Ayatollah claimed.

Khamenei also reportedly told Iranian military commanders that "any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response" during a meeting between the supreme leader and military officials.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that there would be no U.S. attack on Iran before the midterms, a calculation that is likely electoral in nature given that polling averages show that, as of Saturday October 31, over 55% of Americans oppose the conflict.

However, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy alleged that he had been briefed about the possibility of the Trump administration resuming attacks on Tehran after Tuesday's vote, as reports suggest that Washington has warned its allies in the Gulf to prepare for that eventuality.