# U.S. Ends ‘Epic Fury’, Starts ‘Liberty’ Phase With Iran *Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk* **Published**: 2026-05-05T22:04:53.985Z (3h ago) **Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East **Importance**: 9/10 **Sources**: OSINT **Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/2793.md **Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries --- **Deck**: On 5 May 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the end of Operation "Epic Fury" and the start of a new diplomatic-focused phase called the "Liberty Project" on Iran’s nuclear program. He warned that escalation remains possible within a week if negotiations stall, even as thousands of sailors remain trapped in the Gulf. ## Key Takeaways - On 5 May 2026, the U.S. formally declared Operation "Epic Fury" against Iran concluded and announced the start of the "Liberty Project" negotiation phase. - The move allows the administration to avoid Congressional approval requirements for a military campaign lasting more than 60 days. - Secretary of State Marco Rubio tied the shift to a push for talks on Iran’s uranium stockpile while keeping escalation on the table. - Around 23,000 sailors from 87 countries reportedly remain stuck in the Gulf amid ongoing maritime insecurity. - The transition marks a tactical pivot from overt operations to coercive diplomacy, but the risk of renewed strikes remains high. On 5 May 2026, at roughly 21:01–21:31 UTC, U.S. officials publicly framed a major transition in Washington’s approach to the Iran crisis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced to Congress that Operation “Epic Fury” had ended, stating that the United States had “achieved the objectives of that operation” and was moving into a new phase dubbed the “Liberty Project,” centered on negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, particularly the fate of its uranium stockpile. Analysts note that formally ending Epic Fury also has a domestic legal dimension. Under U.S. law, sustained military engagements exceeding 60 days typically require Congressional authorization. By declaring the operation complete before that threshold, the administration preserves flexibility while avoiding a politically fraught authorization vote. Nonetheless, Rubio made clear that if talks “hit a dead end,” options for escalation remain and could be activated within about a week. The announcement comes amid spiraling maritime tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including projectile strikes on commercial vessels, Iranian assertions of new regulatory control over ship passage, and U.S. warnings of readiness for future large-scale operations. Rubio highlighted the human impact, noting that approximately 23,000 sailors from 87 countries are effectively trapped in the Gulf region due to the security environment and disruptions to shipping. Key players include the U.S. executive branch, Congress, Iran’s political and military leadership, and a range of regional actors such as Israel and Gulf states who view Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities as existential threats. Germany’s chancellor has also publicly demanded that Iran return to negotiations and halt any destabilizing regional actions, reflecting European concern over both nuclear risks and missile strikes against Israel and partners. This development matters because it signals a potential inflection point from active, named operations to pressure-backed diplomacy. Ending Epic Fury reduces the immediate pace of overt U.S. strikes or high‑profile deployments but does not de-escalate underlying tensions. Iran has denied involvement in some of the incidents Washington cites as justification for escalation, and its own rhetoric frames U.S. actions as unjustified aggression. Regionally, the shift may provide breathing space for Gulf and European intermediaries to push for deconfliction around Hormuz and for a framework that addresses nuclear, missile, and maritime issues together. However, hardliners on all sides may interpret the end of Epic Fury as either a U.S. climbdown or, conversely, as a mere pause before a more intense phase of coercion if talks fail. Globally, extended uncertainty around Iran’s nuclear trajectory and maritime security in the Gulf increases risk premiums in energy markets and complicates planning for commercial shipping and insurance firms. The presence of stranded multinational crews underscores the risk of the crisis broadening beyond a U.S.-Iran dyad into a wider international incident if casualties mount. ## Outlook & Way Forward In the coming week, attention will focus on whether concrete diplomatic channels on the nuclear file can be opened or revived. Signals from Tehran about its willingness to discuss uranium enrichment limits, stockpile disposition, and verification will be critical. If Iran adopts a stalling posture or couples talks with continued regional strikes, political pressure in Washington to resume or intensify kinetic actions will quickly grow. At the same time, U.S. planners are likely to maintain elevated force readiness around the Gulf, ensuring that any renewed operation can be framed as a distinct campaign from Epic Fury. This creates a delicate messaging challenge: convincing domestic and international audiences that diplomacy is genuine while credibly maintaining a threat of force. Strategically, the Liberty Project phase could either lead toward a reconfigured nuclear understanding—possibly more limited and security-focused than previous agreements—or become a brief interlude before renewed confrontation. Indicators to watch include the tempo of maritime incidents, statements from Iranian nuclear authorities, and domestic political debates in Washington and Tehran. The fate of the 23,000 sailors and broader shipping flows will serve as a real-time barometer of whether the region is edging toward de-escalation or another cycle of conflict.