“This is not an offensive operation,” Rubio said. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”

.@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

Rubio said the US had made some adjustments to a draft UN resolution on the Strait of Hormuz to avoid potential vetoes by China and Russia,  news agency Reuters reported. The revised draft demands Iran stop its attacks, mining, and tolling in the waterway, and allow humanitarian relief to come through.

Draft UN Resolution

The new draft UN Security Council resolution, by the US and Gulf countries, seeks to condemn Iran for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. It threatens to impose sanctions on Iran if it does not fulfil the demands put forward and continues the obstruction.

Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz. This resulted in thousands of ships being stranded outside the water channel. Consequently, global oil prices surged manifold, breaching the 125-dollar-per-barrel mark.

Despite several attempts by the US to get the Strait opened, Iran refused. Iran, however, selectively allowed ships, including those bound for India, through the Strait of Hormuz. It even brought in legislation in the national parliament to monetise the channel in violation of international maritime laws.

Trump’s Project Freedom

Operation Project Freedom was launched on May 4, 2026, by Donald Trump as a US military operation to help ships get past Iran’s blockade of Hormuz.

The mission aims to provide safe passage for nearly 23,000 mariners from 87 countries stranded in the Persian Gulf for over two months. Rubio described the new operation as “defensive in nature” to restore the flow of global commerce rather than engage in further strikes.

However, President Donald Trump has put a temporary halt to ‘Project Freedom’ to allow stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz and finalise a peace deal with Iran.

For global markets, including India’s energy sector, the success of these diplomatic changes at the UN will be the decisive factor in the safe reopening of shipping routes.