US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the cessation of direct offensive operations against Iran while keeping US forces in a state of readiness in the Strait of Hormuz, explaining that Operation “Epic Fury” has ended while the naval blockade and “Project Freedom” to escort ships continue. In parallel, US President Donald Trump, who presents himself as a sponsor of a “smart” agreement that would end the war, called on Tehran to negotiate, while the Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, hinted at a “new equation” for the Strait.

Published on: 05/06/2026 - 02:28 Last updated: 05/06/2026 - 08:01

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington has halted its offensive operations against Iran, while keeping its forces in a state of full readiness to resume strikes if new orders are issued, while the Pentagon waved a “devastating” response to any attacks targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio stated in a press conference at the White House that “Operation Epic Rage has ended, as the President informed Congress. We have ended this phase of it.”

This was accompanied by the US Chief of Staff, General Dan Keane, confirming that US forces are ready to engage in "extensive combat operations" against Iran whenever they are asked to do so, warning against interpreting restraint as a "weakness in resolve."

On the Iranian side, the Speaker of the Shura Council, Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, stressed that Tehran “has not yet begun” its escalation in this vital corridor, while the Revolutionary Guard vowed a “firm response” to ships crossing the strait without adhering to the path specified by Iran.

This coincided with the UAE’s announcement that its defenses had intercepted, for the second day in a row, missiles and drones it accused Iran of launching, while Tehran denied “entirely and in detail” carrying out any attacks, stressing that the accusations were “completely baseless.”

Developments indicate that the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large proportion of global oil and gas exports pass, has come under the control of a tight Iranian operation since the outbreak of war in the Middle East following the American-Israeli attack on Iran, which contributed to pushing oil prices to their highest level since 2022, and prompted Washington to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports and launch the “Project Freedom” operation to escort hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf and secure their passage under American protection.

Read also: Trump reveals “very positive” talks with Iran and a naval plan to accompany ships in Hormuz

'Dangerous escalation'

The military measures coincided with political messages from Washington, as US President Donald Trump urged Iran to make a choice that he described as “smart” by concluding an agreement to end the war, stressing that he did not want to carry out new strikes or “kill” more people.

Trump considered that "Iran wants to conclude an agreement," but accused it of "playing little games" and showing different positions in public and behind closed doors.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously confirmed that his country "does not seek confrontation" in the Strait of Hormuz, but at the same time he stressed that any Iranian attack would be met with "overwhelming and destructive American firepower."

On the other hand, Qalibaf spoke about his country’s endeavor to “establish a new equation for the Strait of Hormuz,” explaining on the “X” platform that the continuation of the current situation is “unbearable” for the United States, and accused Washington and its allies of being the ones who “endanger” the safety of maritime transport.

On the Israeli front, the new Commander of the Air Force, Omer Tishler, warned of his country’s readiness to use “the entire air force” against Iran if necessary, while Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that the Israeli army is on “high alert” on all fronts, and that it is “ready to respond forcefully to any attempt to harm Israel.”

"Political solution"

The tension expanded to include the diplomatic scene, as the UAE announced that Monday’s attacks represented a “dangerous escalation,” at a time when Iran renewed its categorical denial of any targeting of Emirati territory with missiles or drones, stressing that it would have announced this “with all frankness and strength” if it had happened.

International positions continued with condemnations of the attacks on the UAE coming from India, from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in addition to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to make contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian confirmed Tehran's readiness for dialogue, but criticized the American equation by saying that the United States is practicing a "policy of maximum pressure" and at the same time demanding that "Iran sit at the negotiating table and accept its unilateral demands," considering that "such an equation is impossible."

Saudi Arabia joined the calls to calm the situation, calling for "diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution."

On a related level, Israel continued its military operations in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire declared on April 17, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun linked any possible meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Trump proposed to host in the White House, to stopping attacks and reaching a security agreement.

Data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health indicate that the Israeli raids since March 2 have killed about 2,700 people and injured more than 8,200 others, a toll that reflects the intertwining issues of the Strait of Hormuz, the regional war, and the expanding cost of military escalation.

France 24/AFP

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.