Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds White House press briefing — 5/5/2026

Key Concepts

• Project Freedom: A U.S.-led defensive operation to escort stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation.
• Strait of Hormuz: A critical international waterway through which approximately 25% of the world’s oil trade passes.
• Operation Economic Fury: A maximum-pressure campaign involving sanctions and a naval blockade to degrade Iran’s revenue streams.
• Defensive Operation: The U.S. military’s operational posture, which mandates that forces only engage if fired upon first.
• Secondary Sanctions: Penalties imposed on foreign financial institutions or commercial actors that facilitate Iranian sanctions evasion.
• War Powers Act: A U.S. law regarding military engagement, which the administration maintains is unconstitutional.

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1. Project Freedom: Objectives and Execution

The primary goal of Project Freedom is to rescue approximately 23,000 civilians from 87 countries who have been stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

• The Problem: Iran has engaged in "economic arson" and piracy by mining international waters and attacking commercial ships, leading to shortages of food, water, and supplies for stranded crews. At least 10 civilian sailors have reportedly died.
• The Methodology: The U.S. is establishing a "protective bubble" using guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and multi-domain unmanned platforms.
• Status: Two U.S.-flagged merchant ships have successfully transited the strait as a proof of concept. The operation is strictly defensive; U.S. forces have already destroyed seven Iranian fast boats that attempted to swarm and attack vessels.

2. Economic Pressure and Sanctions

The U.S. is utilizing a dual-track approach: a naval blockade and aggressive sanctions enforcement.

• Economic Impact: The blockade has halted 90% of Iranian trade, costing the regime up to $500 million per day. Iran is currently facing 70% inflation and a currency in freefall.
• Sanctions Enforcement: The Treasury Department is targeting the regime’s revenue lifelines. Any entity enabling sanctions evasion faces secondary sanctions and loss of access to the U.S. financial system.
• Strategic Goal: The administration aims to force Iran to the negotiating table to address nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization.

3. The Nuclear Threat and Regional Stability

The Secretary emphasized that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, noting that a nuclear-armed Iran would hold the world hostage, similar to their current tactics in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Evidence of Intent: The U.S. cites Iran’s development of long-range delivery missiles, underground enrichment facilities, and the retention of 60% highly enriched uranium (which has no civilian use) as proof of a military nuclear program.
• Lebanon and Hezbollah: The U.S. views Hezbollah as an extension of Iranian influence. The administration’s goal is to build the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm Hezbollah, thereby removing the primary cause of conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

4. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• International Law: The Secretary argued that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and that no country has the legal right to mine it or demand tolls.
• Defensive Posture: The Secretary repeatedly clarified that the U.S. is not seeking an offensive war. "There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first."
• The Role of the UN: The U.S. is seeking a UN resolution to condemn Iran’s actions. The Secretary noted that if the international community cannot unite against the illegal mining of international waters, the utility of the UN system is in question.
• War Powers Act: The Secretary stated that the administration views the War Powers Act as "100% unconstitutional," consistent with the position of every presidential administration since the law's inception, though they continue to provide notifications to Congress to maintain good relations.

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

The U.S. strategy is defined by a "maximum pressure" campaign designed to isolate Iran economically and militarily until the regime chooses a "sensible path" toward negotiation. The administration maintains that the U.S. is the only nation capable of projecting the power necessary to protect global trade routes. The core message is that Iran’s current actions—closing international waterways and pursuing nuclear weapons—are unsustainable and will lead to the regime's total economic collapse and isolation if they do not change course. The U.S. remains open to a diplomatic path that leads to stability, but warns that testing the resolve of the current administration will result in defeat for the Iranian regime.