JOHN YANG: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said# today that the United States could achieve its## goals in Iran without ground troops,that despite# the deployment of thousands of Marines to the## Persian Gulf and reports that many more# U.S.

personnel could be on the way soon.

A senior regional diplomatic source tells# the "News Hour" there's no agreement## between the United States and Iran on# direct talks or even a venue for them.## The proposals from both sides have been# maximalist, which leaves the region,## the world one month into this# war and an apparent impasse.

Ali Rogin reports.

ALI ROGIN: Today in Tehran, a scene of# horror.

Rescue workers dig through the## rubble, looking for the living and the dead,# a lifeless body hanging from the destruction,## as onlookers pray to end the suffering# and comfort a community in grief.

After Israel overnight launched a# new wave of strikes across Iran,## the head of the Iranian Red Crescent# Society today condemned the attacks.

PIRHOSSEIN KOLIVAND, Head, Iranian Red Crescent# Society (through translator): Claims that## only military areas .. false.

They're lying.

All the areas# being hit now are residential.

Around## 20,399 commercial units where people# work have been damaged and targeted;## 290 medical centers have been targeted.

ALI ROGIN: Israel's military said it targeted## sites used for military purposes and had# warned Iran to stop its missile attacks,## with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz# today promising to escalate the bombing.

ISRAEL KATZ, Israeli Defense Minister (through# translator): Despite the warnings, the firing## has continued and therefore IDF strikes in Iran# will escalate and expand to additional targets## and areas that assist the regime in building and# operating weapons used against Israeli civilians.

ALI ROGIN: And, today, Israel struck the# Khandab heavy water research reactor in## Arak in Central Iran, claiming Iran was# in the process of rebuilding the nuclear## energy complex, having first struck the# site during the 12-day war last June.

This comes as Secretary of State# Marco Rubio, after discussing the## war in Iran with his G7 counterparts, said# the American campaign was nearing its end.

MARCO RUBIO, U.S.

Secretary of State: We are# on or ahead of schedule on that operation and## expect to conclude it at# the appropriate time here,## in a matter of weeks, not months,# and the progress is going very well.

ALI ROGIN: And that the United States# was on standby to negotiate with Iran.

QUESTION: Is it your understanding# that they'll convey their response to## the 15-point plan today?

And are you# looking for anything in particular?

MARCO RUBIO: We haven't gotten it# yet.

We haven't gotten it yet.

Look,## we've got messages.

We've had an exchange# of messages and indications from the Iranian## system, whatever's left of it, about a# willingness to talk about certain things.

We're waiting for further clarification# about who will we allow -- who is it## that we would be talking to,# what we'll be talking about,## and when we'll be talking.

I don't# have any news for you on that yet.

ALI ROGIN: Rubio also spoke# on the day-after scenario## regarding Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

MARCO RUBIO: It's dangerous to the world,# and it's important that the world have a## plan to confront it.

The United States# is prepared to be a part of that plan.

ALI ROGIN: French Foreign Minister# Jean-Noel Barrot echoing Rubio that## the strait's closure was unacceptable to Europe.

JEAN-NOEL BARROT, French Foreign Minister# (through translator): Today, we are adopting## a new statement on Iran at the level of for.. of permanently restoring free and safe# navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

ALI ROGIN: This comes as Iran# today turned away three oil## tankers in the strait, Iranian state TV reported.

MAN (through translator): The IRGC navy# announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed,## and any transit through the strait will face# a new a firm response.

All shipping to and## from ports of allies and supporters# of the U.S.

and Israel is prohibited.

ALI ROGIN: The United Nations# today as well announced a new## task force aimed at opening the strait.

STEPHANE DUJARRIC, Spokesman, Office of# the U.N.

Secretary-General: The primary## focus of this task force is to develop and#.. designed to meet humanitarian# needs in the Strait of Hormuz.

ALI ROGIN: Iran later today accepted the# U.N.

's request for aid to be let through,## with Iran's ambassador to the organization writing## on X that -- quote -- "The Islamic Republic# of Iran has decided to facilitate and further## expedite the safe passage of humanitarian# shipments through the Strait of Hormuz."

But even with aid let through, the war and# the profound loss it inflicts continues.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Ali Rogin.