PARIS: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the effects of economic pressure on Iran are beginning to emerge, adding that Washington is seeking to prevent Tehran from obtaining financial resources for what the United States describes as its destabilising activities.

Speaking to journalists in Paris, Rubio said Iran needs financial resources to support its nuclear programme and its alleged financing of terrorism. According to him, the fewer financial resources Iran has, the less money it will be able to spend on such activities.

The US secretary of state said there was no need for further large-scale military operations against Iran. He added that if economic measures were achieving the desired objectives, the United States would not need to carry out additional military strikes.

Rubio said Washington was prepared to pursue diplomacy to bring the ongoing conflict with Iran to an end. However, he described Tehran’s current demands as completely unrealistic.

Rubio said the United States expected Iran to reconsider its demands. If Tehran changed its position, Washington would be willing to move forward with diplomatic efforts.

He added that the United States would continue its policy of using economic pressure to restrict Iran’s activities while keeping the door open to a diplomatic solution.