Rubio Claims 'Operation Epic Fury' Is Over While Threatening Iran Over Nukes

The Trump administration is spinning a tale of military triumph and diplomatic brinkmanship in its escalating conflict with Iran. At a recent White House briefing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that "Operation Epic Fury," the US and Israeli military strike launched on February 28, has officially concluded. Rubio claimed all mission objectives were met but stopped short of declaring the conflict over, warning that hostilities could resume unless Iran complies with Trump’s demands to halt its nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.

Rubio’s statement is part of a broader effort to frame the campaign as a limited, successful operation, even as tensions in the Persian Gulf remain dangerously high. Iran has responded by establishing the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a new body to regulate ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz, demanding payment for passage — a clear challenge to US-led efforts to assert control over this critical chokepoint.

President Donald Trump took to his Truth social media platform to announce a pause in "Project Freedom," the mission aimed at breaking Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump cited requests from Pakistan and other nations and claimed "great progress" toward a "complete and final agreement" with Iran. However, the blockade itself remains fully in place, underscoring that this "pause" is more a tactical retreat than a genuine de-escalation.

Experts like Middle East analyst Mona Yacoubian warn that the struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz is far from resolved. The US and Iran appear locked in a dangerous standoff, with Iran escalating missile and drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates, a US ally, while Washington pushes to maintain its military presence in the region.

Critics highlight the administration’s reliance on military action without Congressional approval, noting that under the War Powers Resolution, prolonged hostilities require legislative consent. ABC Americas editor John Lyons describes the administration’s shifting terminology—from "Operation Epic Fury" to "Project Freedom"—as semantic games designed to obscure the ongoing conflict.

With Trump facing plummeting approval ratings and rising domestic pressures, the administration’s aggressive posture toward Iran seems driven as much by political calculation as by strategic necessity. The risks of miscalculation in this volatile region remain high, and the administration’s claims of peace talks should be viewed skeptically given the continued military and economic pressure on Iran.

The US government’s next moves will be critical. For now, the only certainty is that the Trump administration’s reckless gambit in the Middle East continues to fuel instability and threatens to drag the region deeper into conflict. We will keep tracking the story as it unfolds.