U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday (March 31) the US will have to reexamine ties with NATO after the Iran war, Reuters reports.
The war began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states with U.S. bases.
Joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. The war has also raised oil prices and shaken global markets.
Rubio said there were messages being exchanged between Iran and the U.S. and there is the potential to have a "direct meeting at some point" between the two sides.
"There are messages being exchanged, there are talks going on. There is the potential for direct meeting at some point," Rubio told Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show.
President Donald Trump - who has offered shifting timelines and objectives for the war, ranging from toppling Iran's government to weakening its military and regional influence - said on Tuesday the U.S. could end its military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks.
Rubio said "that there's nothing any government is doing, or any country in the world is doing now to help Iran that is in any way impeding our mission."
He added Washington will have to reexamine its relations with NATO after the Iran war.
"Ultimately, that's a decision for the president to make, and he'll have to make it," Rubio said.
"But I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose, or has it now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe, but when we need the help of our allies, they're going to deny us basing rights, and they're going to deny us overflight," he added in reference to use of military bases.
European leaders have refused to get directly involved in military attacks against Iran.
Rubio also said there will have to be a transition phase in Venezuela and the country will need free and fair elections, though he added that there needs to be patience until that point is reached.
"There will have to be free and fair elections in Venezuela. And that point has to come."
"We have to be patient, but we also can't be complacent," Rubio said.
The U.S. military seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid in January that was ordered by Trump. The United Nations' human rights office has said the raid was a violation of international law.
Following U.S. moves in Venezuela, Trump has talked of acting against Cuba and pressuring its leadership.
Rubio said in Tuesday's interview that Cuba needed economic and political reforms and Washington would soon have more news on that country.
"So I think Cuba is in need of two things, economic reforms and political reforms, you cannot fix their economy if you don't change their system of government," Rubio said.
