Marco Rubio Says Operation Epic Fury Ended as Trump Pauses Project Freedom in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that Operation Epic Fury is concluded and that “We achieved the objectives of that operation,” as the United States shifted to defensive action around the Strait of Hormuz. On the same day, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military operation to guide stranded ships through the strait, Project Freedom, would be paused for a “short period of time” while Washington sought a final agreement with Iran. Trump said the decision was made “based on the request of Pakistan,” and he added that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. Rubio also said the U.S. would prefer “the path of peace,” while Trump’s social media language left open that “the bombing starts” if Iran does not agree to what has been agreed. The pause came as the standoff continued after Operation Epic Fury began on 28 February, when the U.S. and Israel launched a wave of air strikes on Iran and Tehran responded by blocking the crucial waterway.

“This photo taken on Feb”

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Rubio’s account of the offensive phase ending ran alongside warnings about continued attacks in the Gulf, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine describing the situation as below the threshold of major combat operations. In a White House briefing, Rubio said clashes related to reopening the strait were “defensive in nature,” adding, “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first, OK?” while insisting “We’re not attacking them.” The pause also triggered a dispute over what the U.S. and Iran were doing in the strait, with the BBC noting a cargo vessel report that it had been struck “by an unknown projectile.” Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signaled that Iran had not fully responded, saying, “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet.” Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that Rubio said for peace to be achieved, Iran must agree to Trump’s demands on its nuclear program and also agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iran had not commented on the pause.

As Project Freedom was paused, the sources tied the next phase to whether shipping can move through the Strait of Hormuz and whether diplomacy can produce a “Complete and Final Agreement.” The Guardian said only two merchant ships were known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route, while hundreds more carrying up to 23,000 crew members were bottled up in the Persian Gulf. The BBC reported that Iranian state media characterized the pause as a victory and said it demonstrated that Trump “retreated” after “continued failures” to reopen the vital waterway for global shipping. Rubio and Trump also framed the stakes in terms of leverage and pressure, with NPR reporting that Rubio said at least 10 sailors had already died and that the stranded crews were “isolated, they’re starving, they’re vulnerable.” With the pause underway, the sources also described ongoing diplomatic movement, including Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meeting China’s Wang Yi in Beijing, as China urged a “comprehensive cease-fire” and “a return to normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

“Trump says US to pause operation to guide vessels through Strait of Hormuz The US operation to guide stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused for a "short period of time", President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening”

BBC