The United States has ended its offensive military campaign against Iran, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Operation Epic Fury had achieved its objectives.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Rubio announced the end of the operation that launched the recent war with Iran and confirmed the start of a new defensive phase focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz.
“The operation, Epic Fury, is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” Rubio said.
“This is the first step toward reopening the strait,” he added. “We are doing it not only because we were asked, but because we are the only ones that can.”
The announcement came as President Donald Trump later disclosed that a new defensive mission known as Project Freedom would be paused temporarily to allow more time for negotiations with Iran.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the operation would be halted for a “short period of time” following requests from Pakistan and other countries seeking a diplomatic settlement.
The US administration, however, maintained pressure on Tehran over continued attacks on commercial shipping and American forces in the region.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new defensive operation was launched in response to what he described as “international extortion” by Iran.
“We are not looking for a fight, but Iran cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” Hegseth said.
He also insisted that the ceasefire between both countries remained in place despite continuing tensions.
“The ceasefire is not over,” Hegseth said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, said Iran had fired at commercial vessels nine times since the ceasefire took effect, seized two container ships and attacked US forces more than 10 times.
“All of these instances,” he said, are “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.”
According to US officials, more than 1,550 vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect global trade and energy supplies.
Trump later warned Iran against further attacks while speaking in the Oval Office.
“They know what to do. They know what not to do, more importantly actually,” Trump said.
The president also acknowledged continued harassment of ships by Iranian boats.
“They are looking around for little boats to try and compete with our great Navy,” Trump said.
Rubio said diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear programme were still ongoing despite limited progress.
“What the president would prefer is a deal,” Rubio said. “That is, so far, not the path that Iran has chosen.”
Hegseth disclosed that two US commercial vessels escorted by Navy destroyers had already passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact,” Hegseth said. “They said they control the strait. They do not.”
He warned Iran against further attacks on US personnel or commercial vessels.
“To what remains of Iran’s forces: If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower,” Hegseth said. “The president has been very clear about this.”
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf accused the US and its allies of worsening tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Of course, their evil will diminish,” Ghalibaf wrote on X. “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we have not even begun yet.”
The United Arab Emirates later confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted missile and drone threats for the second consecutive day since the ceasefire began.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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