After the US Says Operation 'Epic Fury' Against Iran Has Ended
The United States has completed its offensive operation against Iran. So, what comes next after the operation named Epic Fury?
Compiled by detikcom on Thursday (7/5/2026), the conclusion of Operation Epic Fury was initially announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He made the statement on Tuesday (5/5) local time, reiterating remarks to the US Congress nearly a month after the ceasefire.
“The operation is over – Epic Fury – as the president informed Congress. We are done with that phase,” Rubio told reporters at the White House, as reported by AFP news agency on Wednesday (6/5).
Previously, the White House had informed members of Congress that the war had ended due to the ceasefire. This means avoiding the legal requirement to seek Congressional approval for a conflict lasting more than 60 days.
“This is not an offensive operation; it is a defensive operation,” Rubio said.
“And that means very simply – no shooting unless we are shot at first,” he added.
Rubio stated that the United States had “achieved the objectives” of the war.
“They faced real and devastating destruction to their economy,” the US Secretary of State said.
War with Iran Called a Small Battle
US President Donald Trump then spoke out after the operation. He sought to downplay the war with Iran, calling it a “small military battle.”
“We are in a small military battle. I call it a small battle because Iran had no chance. They never had. They knew it,” Trump said during an event in the Oval Office at the White House on children’s physical fitness in America on Tuesday (5/5) local time.
Trump has often boasted about the conflict as a brilliant success, for instance by insisting that Iran’s navy has been destroyed.
Trump sometimes openly calls it a war, but more often tries to minimise it because the war is not popular domestically.
On the previous Monday (4/5) local time, Trump referred to the Iran war as a “mini-war.”
Last month, he described the US military operation against Iran as a “small expedition.”
Trump’s Ultimatum to Iran
Not stopping at belittling Iran, Trump also issued an ultimatum. He said “bombing will begin” and its intensity will be higher than before.
“Assuming Iran agrees to provide what has been agreed, which may be a big assumption, then the legendary Epic Fury will end, and a very effective blockade will allow the Strait of Hormuz to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran. If they do not agree, bombing will begin, and unfortunately it will be done at a level and intensity far higher than before,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, as reported by CNN on Wednesday (6/5).
Trump said the US is still open to a deal that would end the US military operation against Iran. However, he added that the likelihood of reaching such an agreement is a “big assumption.”
For context, Israel and the United States attacked Iran on 28 February, killing leaders and destroying key military and economic sites. Iran then responded with missile and drone attacks in various regions.
On 8 April, Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran that was subsequently extended, although negotiations with Tehran remain deadlocked.