U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the ongoing U.S. operation against Iran is expected to conclude within weeks, not months, as Washington seeks to achieve its objectives without deploying ground troops.

Speaking to reporters after attending a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in France, Rubio said the operation aims to neutralize Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and would end “at the appropriate time, in a matter of weeks.” He noted that U.S. officials could meet their goals through targeted actions without prolonged military engagement.

A reporter from Axios on social media reported that Rubio told his G7 counterparts the conflict could continue for “another two to four weeks.”

Rubio also said the United States is open to redirecting weapons from Ukraine to the Middle East, though no such transfers have been made. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he confirmed that no new meetings are scheduled and refuted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim that U.S. security guarantees depend on territorial concessions in Donbass, calling it “a lie.”

The G7 meeting, held Thursday and Friday in France, focused on global security issues, including the Iran crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Rubio’s remarks signal U.S. confidence in a short-term resolution while highlighting the broader geopolitical impact of the Iran conflict.