The United States says its large-scale military campaign against Iran has formally concluded. But in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the crisis that triggered the confrontation is far from settled. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Marco Rubio announced that “Operation Epic Fury” — the joint US-Israeli military campaign launched on February 28 — had completed its primary objectives.
“Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” Rubio said, framing the operation as a mission that successfully achieved its intended goals. What he did not say was equally significant.
Rubio stopped short of declaring the broader conflict over. Nor did he rule out the possibility of renewed military escalation if tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme or the Strait of Hormuz worsen again. Instead, the administration appears to be repositioning its message: from offensive combat operations to sustained strategic pressure.
