Rubio States ‘Epic Fury’ Has Ended, Strait of Hormuz Flare-Ups Test Fragile Ceasefire

(SeaPRwire) –   Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that Operation Epic Fury—the military campaign that began nearly two months ago and sparked a U.S.-Israel war with Iran—has effectively concluded. However, the status of a fragile ceasefire remains uncertain amid ongoing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The operation is over,” Rubio said during a White House briefing. “We’re done with that stage.” He clarified that the United States has now transitioned to a “defensive” approach centered on restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway responsible for transporting a large portion of the world’s energy supplies. Since the conflict escalated, this route has been largely blocked.

“This is not an offensive operation,” Rubio emphasized. “We won’t fire unless fired upon first.”

His remarks reflect a recent shift in administration strategy. The conflict initially began in February when President Trump demanded “unconditional surrender” and called for the complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear program. Now, Rubio adopted a more cautious tone, noting that a U.S. delegation led by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff is still assessing whether Iran is willing to engage in negotiations—and if so, on what terms. “We don’t need a fully drafted agreement,” he explained. “But we do need a clear diplomatic framework outlining the key issues.”

These comments followed the Trump administration’s announcement to Congress that “hostilities” against Iran had officially ended under a ceasefire reached about a month prior. Despite this, Iran has continued launching missile and drone strikes targeting ships and the United Arab Emirates. In response, U.S. forces have taken defensive actions—such as destroying small Iranian vessels and intercepting incoming projectiles—but have avoided what officials described as “major combat operations.”

Earlier Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintained that the recently brokered ceasefire remains valid despite recent attacks on American troops. President Trump also downplayed the escalation but refused to specify exactly what would violate the truce. “You’ll find out,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

Yet the situation in the strait appears far from stable. According to Hegseth, only two commercial ships have safely passed through the area under U.S. protection since the Navy established a guarded corridor this week. Major shipping companies remain hesitant to send vessels through the narrow passage, which spans just 21 miles at its tightest point and lies within range of Iranian missiles, drones, and naval mines. Before the war, approximately 130 ships traversed the strait daily.

Rubio acknowledged the challenges ahead, describing the administration’s new initiative—named “Project Freedom”—as a gradual effort to reestablish what he called a “protective bubble” around maritime traffic. “This is just the beginning,” he said, adding that it marks the first step toward reopening the strait and ending what he characterized as Iran’s “economic sabotage.”

The United States will lead the mission, Rubio confirmed, though he noted that several other nations have offered discreet support. “This is a service to the global community,” he said, pointing out that many stranded ships belong to foreign countries now facing shortages of food, clean water, and essential goods due to vessels stuck at sea.

With global energy prices surging, Rubio highlighted that reopening the strait has become the administration’s top priority: ending Iran’s de facto blockade. While he minimized the immediate effect on American consumers, gasoline costs have risen sharply. “If Iran possessed a nuclear weapon and chose to block the Strait of Hormuz, driving gas prices to $8 or $9 per gallon, there wouldn’t be much we could do,” he warned. “They would use a nuclear weapon exactly as they are now using the strait—to hold global energy markets hostage.”

Rubio accused Iran of advancing capabilities aligned with a nuclear weapons program, including sophisticated centrifuges and long-range missiles, despite its public claims to the contrary. “They say they don’t want a bomb,” he remarked, “but they clearly don’t mean it.” In one particularly blunt assessment, he described Iran’s leadership as “insane in the brain” and urged them to make what he called a “rational decision” to return to negotiations.