The 'Epic Wrath' Operation Between US and Iran Ends

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially announced on Tuesday that the "Epic Fury" military operation launched by the US military against Iran has come to an end, and Washington will shift its focus to "defensive operations" to open up the shipping channel of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the situation in the strait did not calm down as a result — Iran has introduced a new passage control mechanism, and the confrontation continues.

End of the Offensive Phase Announced

Rubi said at a White House press briefing that the "Epic Fury" operation, which began at the end of February, has been formally notified to Congress by President Trump, "We have completed the tasks of this phase." He also emphasized that the United States has now entered the "Liberation Plan" phase, and the nature of the current actions is defensive, "If attacked, the United States will respond lethally, but will not fire proactively.""

Some analysts believe that this move is intended to evade the "60-day limit" set by the US Congress for the use of military force, and it also reflects the strategic considerations of the Trump administration in seeking a political outlet against the backdrop of worsening public opinion.

Iran Introduces New Strait Control Mechanism

At the same time, Iran has quietly launched a new mechanism for maritime passage management of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's press TV reported that all ships planning to pass through the strait must submit an application through the official email and can enter only after obtaining passage approval. The speaker of Iran, Jalibaf, claimed that the Iranian military has "completely controlled" the Strait of Hormuz and warned that unless the United States lifts the blockade on Iranian ports, passage control will continue.

Previously, Iran had announced three conditions for passing through the strait: ships must be merchant ships and not be associated with "hostile countries"; they must follow the designated channels by Iran; passage must be coordinated in advance with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy.

Attacks in the Strait Continue, Civilian Casualties Ongoing

The tension did not dissipate with the end of "Epic Fury". Records from the UK's Maritime Trade Operations show that at least 20 ship attacks occurred in March, resulting in at least 10 deaths among seafarers, with several others injured or missing. On May 3rd, UKMTO reported again that a bulk carrier was attacked by several small boats approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sirri Island, Iran.

Iran has also issued counter-accusations. According to Al Jazeera, Iran claimed on the 5th that the US military attacked civilian ships in the Persian Gulf, resulting in the death of five civilians. In addition, Saman Rezai, the secretary-general of the Iran Merchants Shipping Union, said that since the outbreak of the war on February 28th, at least 44 Iranian seafarers have died, including 22 civilian seafarers, 16 fishermen, and 6 dockworkers.

US Military Forced Escort, Direct Confrontation Between Both Sides

General Cooper, the commander of the US Central Command, announced on Monday that the US military has "opened a free passage channel" in the Strait of Hormuz, assisting two ships flying the US flag to successfully cross. He warned Iranian forces to stay away from US military assets; the Iranian military claimed to have conducted warning shots at a US destroyer, with both sides' statements being contradictory.

President Trump later claimed on social media that the US military had "completely destroyed" Iranian warships and sunk several Iranian small boats, characterizing the conflict as a "small-scale war."

US Seeks Support of International Alliance

"In the diplomatic front, the US Department of State sent an internal telegram to embassies abroad on April 28th, proposing the formation of an international alliance called the "Maritime Freedom Framework", asking allied countries to join in sharing intelligence, coordinated actions, and implementing sanctions. The telegram clearly stated, "Collective action is essential, only in this way can Iran's attempt to obstruct navigation be made to pay a heavy price.""

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres warned on April 27th at a public debate of the Security Council that the crisis in the strait poses a severe impact on the global economy and humanitarian situation, calling for all parties to abide by international law and collectively address the crisis."