Secretary Rubio Declares Operation Epic Fury Is Over
Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the podium at a White House press briefing to announce that Operation Epic Fury in Iran is officially complete: “The operation is over. Epic Fury, the president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it, OK? We’re now on to this project of freedom.”
President Trump also announced that Project Freedom (launched on Monday) has been temporarily paused to see if an agreement can be finalized, and that the U.S. Navy maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz. The President further acknowledged that both sides are closer than ever to a peace deal, though he warned that strikes on Iran would resume if it doesn’t agree to the Strait of Hormuz being “OPEN TO ALL.”
With the latest developments, is the war in Iran about to be over?
For American consumers, Rubio’s proclamation is a welcome development, especially if gas prices start to decline. Perhaps families can start to believe they can go on vacation again this summer after seeing the initial surge in airline and road-trip costs. Again, much of this optimism hinges on the Strait of Hormuz becoming open.
Regarding the ongoing peace talks, Rubio said:
As far as the negotiation is concerned, I think the president’s been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment, but what happens to this material that’s buried deep somewhere that they still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out, that has to be addressed.
The most significant provision of the latest negotiations is that the Iranians must agree to remove the stockpile of enriched uranium from Iran. And can this removal be completed in 30 days with the uranium buried deep underground? It’s highly unlikely to happen in such a short time frame, and we need to know who will monitor this removal.
Jeff Ballabon, the head of ACLJ Jerusalem, joined the broadcast to discuss the unlikely alliances being formed in the Middle East over the Iranian conflict.
It’s important to look back over the last couple of months. What’s arisen has been extraordinary in that, for the first time, and this is entirely thanks to Donald Trump’s presidency, . . . the UAE being attacked by a Muslim Persian country calls in Israel, and Israel sends over troops and technology and weapons to help them fight. This is extraordinary.
We’re not just talking about peaceful trade; we’re talking about actual real-time war. Defenses among countries that, until Donald Trump came around, wouldn’t even talk to each other, or they wouldn’t talk to Israel, and now they’re relying on Israel to help them. So the truth is there is still tremendous room for hope here.
Iran still is sort of the destroyer of the region, and I personally believe that we do need to see some kind of regime change for this to be safe, but nobody can make that happen. It has to be the Iranian people. All that can happen is that the allies of the Iranian people can set up the circumstances as well as possible.
I hope that Rubio’s announcement is a harbinger of peace in the Middle East. Our broadcast will keep you updated during the days ahead.
We also must never forget the persecuted Christians in Iran as this conflict concludes. Retribution by the regime is likely to come down hard. As Iranians cry out for freedom, the regime’s brutal crackdown will fall hardest on Christians – already hunted – now facing even greater persecution. We must act now before it’s too late. Silence only empowers tyranny.
We’re preparing new legal submissions and oral interventions at the U.N. and on Capitol Hill in this dire moment of need. Take action with us to defend Christians in Iran from the ruthless scourge of jihadist persecution.
Today’s Sekulow broadcast included a full analysis of Secretary of State Rubio’s announcement and former President Barack Obama’s comments on the “politicization of the criminal justice system.” Finally, Eric Bischoff joined the program to discuss Ted Turner’s passing.
Watch the full broadcast below: