The U.S. confirms the end of Iran’s “Operation Epic Rage,” and Bitcoin rebounds to $81k

According to a statement made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 6, the United States’ “Operation Epic Wrath” against Iran has officially ended, and the U.S. has achieved the operation’s stated objectives; that same day, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced that the “Freedom Plan,” which routes vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, will be paused for a period of time. Bitcoin rebounded that day to around $81,000, reaching its highest level since late January 2026.

U.S. Announces End of Military Action Against Iran and “Freedom Plan” Pause

According to Rubio’s public statement, “Operation Epic Wrath” has met its goals. The U.S. military characterized its new actions in the Strait of Hormuz as defensive in nature and said that if attacked in the strait, the United States would respond with lethal force.

According to Trump’s public statement, the reasons for pausing the “Freedom Plan” include: requests from Pakistan and other countries, military progress made in actions against Iran, and “significant progress” in negotiations toward a comprehensive final agreement reached with Iranian representatives; Trump’s statement also noted that the blockade measures would remain in effect during the pause period.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has not ended yet. The U.S. side still holds the advantage in the negotiations and said it is ready at any time to resume actions against Iran; the “Bush” (USS George H.W. Bush) aircraft carrier is crossing the Arabian Sea, carrying more than 60 fighter jets.

Latest Developments in the Strait of Hormuz Situation

According to an official Iranian statement, the Iranian president said rational dialogue may still be possible, but maximum pressure will not work; the naval command of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that vessels deviating from designated shipping lanes will face a “decisive response”; Iran’s top leader’s foreign affairs adviser said that the U.S.-Iran relationship is still in a war state.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense, two merchant vessels and a U.S. destroyer have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz; Iran announced that it has started a new mechanism for managing Strait of Hormuz passage.

Bitcoin Market Data

According to market data, Bitcoin rebounded on May 6, 2026 to around $81,000, the highest level since late January 2026. On the same day, daily net inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs exceeded $600 million; during the recent rally, short positions worth about $270 million were forcibly closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announce that “Operation Epic Wrath” had ended?

According to a statement Rubio released to the media on May 6, 2026, “Operation Epic Wrath” has officially ended, and the U.S. has achieved its stated objectives.

Why did Trump announce a pause of the “Freedom Plan”?

According to Trump’s May 6 public statement, the “Freedom Plan” pause was based on requests from Pakistan and other countries, military progress in actions against Iran, and significant progress in negotiations toward a comprehensive final agreement between the U.S. and Iran, while blockade measures would remain effective during the pause period.

How did Bitcoin perform on May 6?

According to market data, Bitcoin rebounded on May 6 to around $81,000, reaching its highest level since late January 2026; on the same day, net inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs exceeded $600 million, and the recent scale of short-covering was about $270 million.