ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Paris on Friday to attend a G7 foreign ministers meeting, amid growing tensions between Washington and its European allies over what the United States has criticized as limited support for its military campaign against Iran and their reluctance to help secure maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement on X, Rubio said he was heading to France for the G7 group of industrialised democracies - Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States - to “meet with world leaders about the security concerns we share around the world and opportunities to address the situation in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.”
Speaking to reporters before his trip, the Secretary of State also noted that “the US is constantly asked to help in wars, and we have, but when we had a need, it didn’t get positive responses from NATO [allies].”
He added that “a couple of leaders said that Iran was not Europe’s war,” noting, “well, Ukraine isn’t our war, yet we’ve contributed more to that fight than anyone.”
The US and Israel on February 28 launched a coordinated military campaign against Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper reported on Thursday that the operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, struck more than 10,000 targets across the country to achieve “clear military objectives of eliminating Iran’s ability to project power in meaningful ways beyond its borders.”
In response, Iran launched Operation True Promise 4, conducting thousands of drone and missile attacks targeting alleged US and Israeli positions in the region, particularly in Gulf Arab states, as part of its multi-front retaliation.
Tehran has also tightened its control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing it to commercial traffic. The strait handles roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade, and its closure has caused regional disruptions, driving global oil prices up by 40 to 50 percent.
US President Donald Trump in mid-March criticized NATO nations for their lack of support in the US campaign against Iran, particularly regarding his proposal for a coalition to secure maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he was “very disappointed in NATO,” noting, “We've spent trillions of dollars on NATO over the years… and when they don't help us, it is definitely something we should think about.” He further called NATO nations “very foolish” for expressing concern about Iran as a threat while refusing to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is not good for a partnership when they say what you’re doing is a great thing, but we’re not going to help,” Trump said.
Secretary of State Rubio on Friday reiterated to reporters that “the Strait of Hormuz could be open tomorrow if Iran stops threatening global shipping, which is an outrage and a violation of international law,” adding, “for all these countries that care about international law, they should be doing something about it.”
For its part, the European Union emphasized on Thursday that ending the Iran conflict can only be achieved through diplomacy.
Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, stated, “Ending the war can only be achieved through diplomacy and sitting at the negotiating table,” adding, “We need an exit from the war, not to further escalate,” and that “it is in everyone's interest to stop it; therefore, we are engaging in diplomatic efforts.”
Of note, the G7 meeting in France comes as US President Trump on Friday extended the deadline for the “destruction” of Iran’s energy infrastructure by an additional ten days, after previously warning he would act by Friday, to allow more time for talks with Tehran.
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