Pentagon Considers Renaming US Operation Against Iran From Epic Fury To Sledgehammer

The Pentagon is considering renaming the US military operation against Iran from Operation Epic Fury to Operation Sledgehammer if the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapses and President Donald Trump decides to resume large-scale combat operations.

The reporting says the change is being weighed as a way to secure 60 more days for congressional authorization, with the Firstpost account tying the move to the War Powers Resolution’s 48-hour notice requirement and a 60-day withdrawal clock if Congress does not approve.

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Firstpost also says Operation Epic Fury was paused after 40 days of fighting, and that the Pentagon argued the administration had not crossed the 60-day limit because major combat operations were halted by the ceasefire.

In parallel, the Il Sole 24 ORE summary places the decision-making inside a broader US effort to discuss future strategies for the conflict with Iran, including the possibility of resuming military action.

The same Il Sole 24 ORE account says tensions remain high as Tehran has blocked naval traffic in the Strait of Hormuz while Washington maintains the economic blockade and evaluates options to reopen the strategic passage.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Operation Epic Fury “is over,” saying, “The president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it,” and adding, “Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” according to the Firstpost account.

Firstpost also reports that Trump rejected Iran’s proposal delivered through Pakistan, calling it “Totally Unacceptable!” and describing the ceasefire as “unbelievably weak” with a “1 per cent chance” of living.

Il Sole 24 ORE

The Il Sole 24 ORE summary similarly describes Trump’s position that “Iran cannot get its hands on a nuclear weapon. That is a 100 per cent certainty,” while also saying Trump was meeting with his national security team and senior military leadership to discuss future strategies.

In the same Il Sole 24 ORE account, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, is quoted saying, “We will discuss it in parliament,” in connection with Tehran’s threat to enrich uranium to 90% if attacked.

The News18 and UNN accounts both describe the renaming discussion as conditional on Trump deciding to resume major combat operations if ceasefire talks collapse, with News18 saying the name change could reset the 60-day War Powers clock.

NBC News reporting, as carried in the Il Sole 24 ORE summary, says the Pentagon is considering the rename to give Trump “more breathing room” if the ceasefire fails, and it links the discussion to the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day limit before congressional authorization is required.

“Trending: West Asia war updates Modi-Xi meet Russia war IPL 2026 Neet-UG paper leak advertisement US may rename Iran conflict ‘Operation Sledgehammer’ if ceasefire fails, says report FP News Desk _•_ May 13, 2026, 11:54:03 IST advertisement The US government is considering renaming the ongoing war in Iran from Operation Epic Fury to Operation Sledgehammer if the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapses and fighting resumes”

Firstpost

The Firstpost account says Iran halted ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz while the Trump administration maintained its Iranian blockade, and it frames the blockade strategy as aimed at maintaining pressure without immediately restarting large-scale combat operations.

Il Sole 24 ORE adds that the US sends an Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bomber to the area as the cost of the US operation continues to rise, while also noting that hardly any final decisions would be taken before Trump’s visit to China.

In the same Il Sole 24 ORE summary, the account says US discontent with Pakistan’s role as mediator is “growing,” with Trump aides believing Islamabad is not conveying the president’s “degree of frustration” to Iran with “sufficient firmness.”

The Firstpost account also says senior officials including Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine recently held meetings to review military and strategic options, and it reports that the US military presence in West Asia is now larger than it was when Operation Epic Fury began in February.