Iran war 'will be over in weeks not months' says Marco Rubio

America has insisted it can 'achieve its objectives' in Iran without boots on the ground and will wrap up the war in 'weeks not months'.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed on Friday the operation was 'ahead of schedule' and can be completed 'without any ground troops'.

But despite reportedly telling world leaders the timeline for completion is two to four weeks, officials revealed on Friday that Washington is still mulling over a possible invasion.

Around 10,000 extra troops are heading for the region in the next ten days supported by fighter jet squadrons and armoured vehicles, sources told the Axios news site.

This is in addition to 5,000 marines and 2,000 paratroopers that were ordered to the Gulf earlier this week.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday: 'I have reasons to believe, also based on information we have received from our allies, that stabilisation is unlikely in the coming days. On the contrary, a new escalation may occur.'

Pushed on the reports after a G7 meeting in France, Mr Rubio told reporters: 'This is not going to be a prolonged conflict . . .

'We can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops, but we are always going to be prepared to give President [Trump] maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies that emerge.'

Mr Rubio also insisted that Washington has been 'as clear as you can possibly be' on its objectives 'from the very first night'.

He listed them as destruction of the Iranian navy and air force and the aim to 'significantly destroy their missile launchers so they can never hide behind these things to get a nuclear weapon'.

However, that appeared to be a dramatic walk-back from Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan presented earlier this week. Adding to the confusion, there was consternation among Republicans after a closed door classified briefing on Wednesday over the war's objectives.

One member was seen storming out claiming they'd been 'misled'.

Speaking anonymously they told the Daily Mail that during the meeting they were 'told nukes were not a military objective' despite this having been clearly stated as a key war goal.

They said they also pushed the White House for its plans regarding a possible invasion and, while they declined to divulge what was said, described the answer as 'jaw dropping'. It 'will blow your brains out', they added. The White House denied the claims.

With Mr Trump's next move still unclear on Friday, the German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul claimed the US and Iran are set to meet in Pakistan 'very soon'.

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Mr Wadephul said: 'Based on my information, there has been indirect contact, and preparations have been made to meet directly.'

The war is taking its toll on America with more than 300 US troops wounded, ten with serious injuries, and 13 killed. In another blow, the US has only been able to confirm that it has destroyed about a third of Iran's missile arsenal, sources told Reuters.

It contrasts starkly with Donald Trump's claims that Iran has 'very few rockets left' and that the US has 'decimated' Iran's military. America also has 'alarmingly low' levels of Tomahawk cruise missiles left in the region having fired more than 850, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Iran's powerful speaker of parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, seen as key to negotiations, mocked America's build up in the region.

He said: 'How can the US, which can't even protect its own soldiers at its bases in the region and instead leaves them stashed away in hotels and parks, protect them on our soil?'

Meanwhile, Israel has vowed to 'escalate and expand' its attacks after striking 'the most central' site to target Iran's naval munitions.

The attack was a further sign the IDF is looking to weaken the regime's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. President Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be pressing to lay the groundwork to make an invasion possible to reopen the vital shipping lane through which 20 per cent of global oil passes.