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Operation Epic Fury remains central to the Trump administration’s account of its confrontation with Iran.  President Donald Trump warned that Iran had been only weeks away from acquiring a nuclear weapon before the military campaign began seven months ago.

At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran loaded no crude oil onto tankers during September, a development the administration has presented as a major result of its pressure campaign, Operation Economic Outcast.

Trump Cites Iran’s Nuclear Program

President Trump said Thursday that Iran was approaching the capability to obtain a nuclear weapon when Operation Epic Fury began.

The U.S. Central Command launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, 2026. Earlier Defense Department fact sheets described the operation as targeting Iranian military and security infrastructure, including missile sites, air defenses, naval assets, weapons-production facilities and command-and-control locations.

The Pentagon later said the operation officially concluded on May 5, although U.S. military activity and tensions involving Iran continued afterward.

Operation Economic Outcast Targets Iranian Oil

The economic component of the confrontation has also become increasingly important.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Thursday that Iran did not load a single barrel of crude oil onto tankers in September. The development came as the Trump administration continued Operation Economic Outcast, its campaign of economic pressure against Tehran.

The White House has previously said that Iranian oil exports were being restricted as part of efforts to limit revenue available to the Iranian government. In August, the administration said Iran had exported zero oil from its shores since a blockade resumed in July.

The impact extends beyond Iran because the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial route for international energy shipments.

Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Risk

A tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile Thursday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, with the vessel reportedly catching fire.

The maritime situation remains tense. UKMTO has warned that commercial shipping faces an elevated threat environment, while reporting cited in the supplied material says vessels continue to face risks from projectile attacks and navigation interference.

The strategic importance of the waterway is reflected in continuing efforts to maintain commercial shipping. Recent reporting says the United States and Iran remain involved in an unresolved conflict affecting maritime traffic and energy markets.

U.S. Military Reinforcements Head Toward Middle East

The United States is also increasing its military presence in the region.

According to the supplied report, the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are being sent to the Middle East.

More recent reporting confirms that the Theodore Roosevelt and Marine forces are part of a broader U.S. military deployment to the region amid continuing tensions with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

The deployment comes as U.S. forces continue operating in an environment that has included attacks on American and commercial vessels.

Oil and Shipping Remain Closely Connected

Iran's lack of crude-oil tanker loads in September is significant because restrictions on Iranian energy exports intersect directly with the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, Reuters reported that 19 liquefied-natural-gas cargoes exited the Strait during September, according to data from S&P Global Energy. That was reportedly the highest monthly level since the U.S.-Iran war began in February.

The conflicting pressures—attempts to restrict Iranian exports while keeping international energy shipments moving—make the Strait one of the central issues in the continuing confrontation.

Related Links: Operation Epic Fury and Operation Economic Outcast

Readers following Operation Epic Fury, Operation Economic Outcast, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz can review the following related coverage and official materials:

• U.S. Defense Department — Operation Epic Fury fact sheet
• White House — Operation Epic Fury overview
• White House — U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian oil exports
• Pentagon Inspector General report on Operation Epic Fury
• CBS News — Pentagon guidance concerning the Operation Epic Fury name
• AP — U.S.-Iran talks and the Strait of Hormuz
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