The United States says it has brought its offensive campaign against Iran to an end while warning that any fresh threat to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would draw a forceful response.
Speaking on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is not seeking a wider confrontation but stressed that the United States remains committed to protecting one of the world’s most critical energy and trade corridors.
Senior American military officials said US forces remain fully prepared and can quickly return to large-scale operations if directed. The latest developments have renewed uncertainty around an already fragile ceasefire in the Gulf.
.@SecRubio: “Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What @POTUS would prefer is a deal… that is, so far, not the route that Iran has chosen.” pic.twitter.com/blkqn3Bqdm
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 5, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy warned that any vessel moving outside approved transit routes would face firm action. Iranian officials also indicated that Tehran has yet to deliver its full response to recent events.
The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted a second wave of missiles and drones it said originated from Iran. Tehran rejected the claim, stating that no missile or drone operation had been carried out by its armed forces.
The exchange followed Monday’s attacks, when Iran launched missiles and drones at US positions. Washington said it responded by targeting six Iranian boats that it accused of endangering commercial maritime traffic. It was the most serious flare-up since a month-long truce came into effect.
US President Donald Trump called on Tehran to choose negotiations over further confrontation saying he wanted to avoid additional casualties while maintaining that Iran held no strategic advantage.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States is not pursuing conflict but made clear that any attack on American interests or international shipping routes would meet a decisive response.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the current situation as unacceptable and said Tehran would continue to assert its position in the strategic waterway.
معادلهٔ جدید تنگهٔ هرمز در حال تثبیت است. امنیت کشتیرانی و ترانزیت انرژی به دست آمریکا و متحدانش با نقض آتشبس و اعمال محاصره به خطر افتاده است؛ البته شرّشان کم خواهد شد.
خوب میدانیم که استمرار وضع موجود برای آمریکا غیر قابل تحمل است؛ درحالی که ما هنوز حتی شروع هم نکردهایم.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) May 5, 2026
Israel also signaled military readiness. Senior commanders said the country’s air force remains prepared to act swiftly if the regional situation deteriorates further.
Iran denied suffering naval losses and accused US forces of killing five civilians during the latest confrontation at sea.
Despite the tensions Danish shipping company Maersk confirmed that one of its vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz under US naval protection.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates described the latest escalation as dangerous and urged immediate diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from deepening.
Rubio accused Iran of putting global trade at risk and said Washington, together with Gulf partners has prepared a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council. The proposal calls on Tehran to halt attacks reveal the location of sea mines and abandon efforts to impose transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz.
.@SecRubio: “This is what Iran is saying: we will shut down the Straits… No country in the world can go through, unless we allow you to go through, and you have to pay us, but our ships can go through… That’s crazy. Who would agree to that?” pic.twitter.com/90t79vsLbV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 5, 2026
A vote on the measure is expected within days.
Financial markets reacted cautiously. European and US stocks edged higher on Tuesday, while concerns over the stability of the ceasefire weighed on Asian markets.
Diplomatic momentum remains limited with only one round of direct talks held so far. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains open to dialogue but rejected Washington’s “maximum pressure” approach as unacceptable.
Rising energy prices are adding fresh strain to the global economy and could become a political challenge for President Trump ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
European leaders warned that prolonged disruption in the Gulf would have consequences far beyond the region. Ursula von der Leyen said developments in the Gulf carry direct implications for Europe’s economic security.
Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer also called on Iran to return to the negotiating table.
