Iran war: Operation Epic Fury is 'over,' Rubio says

What you need to know

• Rubio: Offensive operations against Iran are 'over'
• Iran 'categorically denies' attacking UAE this week
• Gasoline prices in the United States up 50% since start of war

Welcome to DW's coverage of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Wednesday, 6 May, 2026. You can catch up on Tuesday's developments here.

Rubio: Offensive operations against Iran 'over'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that offensive operations against Iran have ended.

"The operation is over – Epic Fury – as the president notified Congress, we're done with that stage of it," he told reporters at the White House, insisting that the United States was now only taking defensive action in enforcing ​its blockade of Iranian ports. 

"We are only responding ​if attacked first. This is a defensive operation," he said. "If no shots ​are fired ‌at these ships and no shots are fired at us, we're not firing shots, but if we're fired on we will respond."

Rubio also confirmed that ten civilian sailors have died during the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.

"They're isolated, they're starving, they're vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result, civilian sailors," he said, without providing additional details.

Welcome to our coverage

Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Wednesday, 6 May, 2026.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed that offensive operations against are over and that US forces will be acting purely defensively to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military has denied launching attacks on the United Arab Emirates this week.

And back in the United States, the American Automobile Association reports that gasoline prices are up 50% since the start of the war.

Stay tuned for more thorughout the day in our blog.