Rubio Declares ‘Epic Fury’ Ended as Strait of Hormuz Ceasefire Stands on Edge

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Tuesday that Operation Epic Fury has concluded, but the fragile truce surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remains precarious.

Strait of Hormuz Ceasefire Tested

Rubio emphasized a shift to a defensive stance, aimed at reopening the waterway that once saw ↓ 130 ships/day before the conflict. “The operation is over,” he said at a White House briefing, adding that U.S. forces will fire only in self‑defence.

“We are creating a protective bubble for commercial traffic,” Rubio asserted.

The administration’s “Project Freedom” seeks to carve a narrow corridor, yet only two merchant vessels have transited under U.S. escort this week, according to Reuters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that any escalation could reignite “major combat operations,” a scenario President Trump declined to define.

Iranian drones and missiles continue to threaten the strait, prompting the U.S. to intercept several projectiles and sink small craft. While foreign navies have offered quiet assistance, the United States bears the bulk of the burden, positioning the effort as “a favor to the world.”

Energy markets feel the pressure: crude prices have risen, and analysts at Bloomberg note that any full closure could push gasoline to single‑digit figures per gallon in the United States.

Rubio concluded with a stark warning: Iran’s leadership, he said, appears “insane in the brain,” and must choose negotiation over further escalation.

Words by Vance Sterling (Crisis & Global Conflict Director).