Rubio says US operation ‘Epic Fury’ is over, as flare-ups in Hormuz test fragile ceasefire

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday evening that Operation Epic Fury, the roughly two months of US-Israeli war against Iran, had effectively ended, but the ceasefire appears to be fragile as attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continued

WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2026) United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday evening that Operation Epic Fury, the roughly two months of US-Israeli war against Iran, had effectively ended, but the ceasefire appears to be fragile as attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continued.

"Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” Rubio told reporters at the White House Tuesday, 66 days after the US and Israel began bombing Iran during which thousands of Iranians were killed and destroyed key sites in the country. “We achieved the objectives of that operation.

“We’re done with that stage of it.” In its place, Rubio said, the United States has shifted to a “defensive” posture focused more on restoring commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries a significant share of the world’s energy supplies and has effectively been choked off since the conflict intensified.

“This is not an offensive operation,” Rubio said. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”

A few hours later, President Donald Trump announced that he would pause a US-led move to help stranded ships exit the Strait of Hormuz to see if an agreement with Iran to end the war could be finalized.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.

At the same time, he warned that the US blockade of ships transiting to and from Iranian ports would “remain in full force and effect.”

Rubio's comments about conclusion of "Epic Fury" followed a recent shift in posture from Administration officials about the conflict, which had begun in February with President Trump demanding "unconditional surrender" and the obliteration of Iran’s nuclear programme.

But latest assessments from Congressional Democrats and analysts said that the primary objectives set by the Trump administration have not been achieved.

Rubio struck a notably cautious tone as he emphasized that a U.S. delegation led by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were still trying to determine what, if anything, Iran was prepared to negotiate on. “We don’t have to have the actual agreement written out, but we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics,” Rubio said.

His remarks came days after the Trump Administration told Congress that “hostilities” against Iran had formally ended amid a ceasefire reached nearly a month ago, despite new missile and drone attacks which, according to the American media, came from Iran targeting shipping and the United Arab Emirates.

But Iran’s joint military command said it has not carried out any attack against the United Arab Emirates in recent days.

"Iran’s armed forces have not carried out any missile or drone operations against the United Arab Emirates in recent days, and if any action had been taken, we would have announced it clearly and decisively," a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said.

“The UAE defence ministry’s report is categorically denied and has no validity,” he added.

On its part, US military said they have responded to threats in the waterway, including destroying small Iranian boats and intercepting projectiles, but have stopped short of what officials described as “major combat operations."

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted the ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan last month. remains intact despite recent attacks on U.S. forces. Trump also sought to minimize the flare-ups, but declined to define precisely what would constitute a violation of the ceasefire. “You’ll find out,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.