Rubio Declares Offensive Stage Of Iran Conflict 'Over' - Just As New Cargo Vessel Under Atta

05-05-2026 • https://www.zerohedge.com, by Tyler Durden

Rubio Declares Conflict in New Stage

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced Tuesday afternoon that offensive stage of Iran war is 'over'. He further said that ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz are facing a humanitarian crisis and accused Iran of holding the world hostage by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is denying that it attacked the United Arab Emirates, with the foreign ministry saying its 'defensive actions' were 'exclusively directed at the U.S.'

Operation Epic Fury is over, now Project Freedom.

The remarks were issued just as a new attack is unfolding on a foreign cargo ship in the strategic waterway:

UKMTO WARNING 055-26

Click here to read the full warning??https://t.co/J5B2EilFQE #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/EGcKTpsHtN
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) May 5, 2026

BREAKING: REPORTER: But 10 weeks in, are we any closer to get rid of Iran's nuclear materials?

RUBIO: They no longer have a conventional shield. They have no Navy left. They don't have an Air Force. That's a very substantial achievement. That was the purpose of this. pic.twitter.com/bD33XPARVH
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) May 5, 2026