In his first flip on the White Home briefing room podium, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury in Iran is “over” and that the U.S. is transferring on to “Challenge Freedom” and efforts to maneuver site visitors by means of the Strait of Hormuz.
ABC Information requested Rubio on whether or not, 10 weeks into the battle, the administration is any nearer to eliminating Iran’s nuclear materials — on condition that President Donald Trump’s main goal within the warfare has been to forestall Iran from having a nuclear weapon.
In response, Rubio solely touted the navy successes of Operation Epic Fury.
“Their potential to construct a protect behind which they may conceal their nuclear program was worn out. That is a really substantial achievement. And that was the aim of this operation from Day 1,” he stated.
“However do you must get their nuclear materials for this warfare to finish?” ABC Information requested the secretary.
Rubio wouldn’t decide to that. As an alternative, he burdened that the U.S. is finished with Operation Epic Fury.
“Effectively, that is one of many matters that must be mentioned. I do not find out about — I feel you are linking it. The operation is over. Epic Fury is — the president notified Congress, we’re performed with that stage of it, OK. We’re now on to this challenge of freedom,” he stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks throughout a press briefing within the Brady Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, Might 5, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
The secretary adopted a notably completely different tone from Trump, who has been fast to threaten extra navy motion in opposition to Iran.
Requested in regards to the chance that preventing resumes, as Trump has threatened it may, and whether or not that may require congressional approval, Rubio burdened: “Operation Epic Fury is concluded.”
“We achieved the aims of that operation,” Rubio stated. “I am not going to, you know, we’re not cheering for an extra state of affairs to happen. We would like the trail of peace. What the president would like is a deal. He would like to sit down down and work out a memorandum of understanding for future negotiations that touches on all the important thing matters that need to be addressed; a full opening of the strait so the world can get again to regular.”
Rubio on talks: ‘If there’s an actual diplomatic path’
Rubio appeared to concede that talks have stalled. Talking about Iran coming again to the negotiating desk, he stated Trump’s prime negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are “engaged on that very onerous.”
“However Iran should settle for the fact of the state of affairs and are available to the negotiation desk and settle for phrases which are good for them, however finally good for the world,” Rubio stated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks throughout a press briefing within the Brady Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, Might 5, 2026.
Kent Nishimura/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
“But when there’s an actual diplomatic path and we proceed to discover it, Steve and Jared are engaged on that very onerous. If there may be one there, it could possibly be one which leads them to reconstruction, to prosperity, and to stability, and to not posing a menace to the world,” Rubio added.
This comes after Trump stated on Sunday in a social media put up that his “Representatives are having very constructive discussions with the Nation of Iran, and that these discussions may result in one thing very constructive for all.”
However Rubio’s feedback trace that talks are usually not ongoing and that there’s extra work to be performed in an effort to get Iranian groups to the desk.
