WASHINGTON, November 9 (Aalimi Nation) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the war against Iran is not popular at home but remains necessary, even as President Donald Trump said he expects to discuss ending the conflict with the leaders of China and Russia at an Asia-Pacific summit later this month.

Speaking to reporters at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida, Rubio said Trump had "identified a very real threat" in Tehran's nuclear ambitions and acted to stop it. He acknowledged that the war has little public support, saying it was a decision that was not necessarily popular but was necessary in the president's view.

On the prospects for a settlement, Rubio was cautious. "I wouldn't say we're at the verge of a breakthrough," he said, describing some of Iran's demands as "outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic".

Trump said on Sunday that he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19. "One of the meetings, I think, will be with President Putin and President Xi, and that'll be interesting," he said, adding: "We're trying to end the war in Iran."

The Kremlin said on October 21 that a first-of-its-kind three-way meeting was "being prepared". A newspaper report has said Putin wants to use such a gathering to push for a Ukraine settlement on terms favourable to Moscow.

Trump said Washington's blockade of Iran's land supply routes is now in effect. In a telephone interview, he said renewed US strikes would be "highly unlikely" if talks on Iran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz make progress and Tehran signs what he called a "strong agreement". Tehran has threatened to "rain down hell" if the United States escalates.

The war has also become a political issue in the United States. Vice President JD Vance recently blamed the conflict for the Republican Party's defeat in last week's midterm elections. Trump said he mostly agreed with Vance's remarks but did not regret the war, which he predicted "will go down as one of the best things we ever did".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it was "time for the White House to make its own" decision. In a post on social media he wrote that "American voters have made their choice" and that Tehran's "2-day proposal stands". That proposal includes ending the war on all fronts. Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within two days if the United States meets its conditions.

Trump was scheduled to meet Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, at the White House on Monday. Officials said Tehran is reviewing Qatari proposals intended to narrow the differences between the two sides.

Rubio also dismissed what he called "unfounded" speculation that he intends to leave the State Department to seek higher office in 2028. Beijing and Moscow have not confirmed the planned meetings.