ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to France on Friday for a G7 foreign affairs meeting, the State Department said Tuesday.

"The Secretary will meet with foreign ministers from partner nations to discuss shared security concerns and opportunities for cooperation," it said in a statement, citing the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East as key focus areas.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Mideast region between the US and Israeli strikes against Iran launched Feb. 28, which have killed more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with repeated drone and missile strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US forces.

The Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted since early March, affecting roughly 20 million barrels of daily oil traffic and pushing global prices higher.

US President Donald Trump paused strikes Monday on Iranian energy infrastructure, citing "very good and productive" talks with Tehran, which Iranian officials denied had taken place.