WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the American offensive phase of the war with Iran is over, declaring that Operation Epic Fury has ended and that Washington is no longer conducting sustained strikes against Iranian targets.
Rubio told lawmakers and reporters that the U.S. military campaign had achieved its core objectives, including severe damage to Iran’s air defences, naval assets, missile launchers and drone capabilities. He rejected suggestions that Iran had emerged stronger from the conflict, saying Tehran had been militarily weakened and economically strained.
“The operation is over,” Rubio said, referring to the U.S.-Israel campaign that began after strikes on Iran in late February. However, he stopped short of saying a full peace agreement had been reached, and recent flare-ups in the Gulf have underscored how fragile the situation remains.
The announcement comes as President Donald Trump continues to pursue negotiations with Tehran over a broader settlement involving Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio has said an eventual deal is still possible, but has warned that any agreement must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and restore freedom of navigation through the Gulf.
Despite Rubio’s declaration, tensions remain high. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on June 3 aimed at halting further military action against Iran, a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump’s handling of the conflict. The measure passed 215-208 and now faces an uncertain path in the Senate.
Recent incidents have also tested the ceasefire. Iranian attacks struck Kuwait International Airport, killing one person and injuring dozens, after a U.S. strike on an Iran-bound tanker near Kuwait, according to reports. Trump has said ceasefire talks are continuing and that he does not want further escalation unless U.S. troops are killed.
The war began with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 and pushed the region close to a wider conflict. A ceasefire declared in April reduced large-scale fighting, but maritime clashes, drone incidents and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz have continued.
Rubio’s message signals a shift from sustained military operations to diplomacy backed by pressure. But with no final deal in place and Iran still contesting U.S. demands, the conflict may be paused rather than fully resolved.
