US may rename Iran conflict ‘Operation Sledgehammer’ if ceasefire fails, says report

The US government is considering renaming the ongoing war in Iran from Operation Epic Fury to Operation Sledgehammer if the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapses and fighting resumes, according to an NBC News report.

The move is being seen as an attempt by US President Donald Trump to secure 60 more days to seek authorisation from Congress for military action against Iran.

Under current US law, the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of starting military combat operations. If Congress does not approve the action, US troops must be withdrawn within 60 days.

Operation Epic Fury was paused after 40 days of fighting. The Pentagon has argued that, because the ceasefire halted major combat operations, the administration has not yet crossed the 60-day limit set by the War Powers Resolution.

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According to the report, any renewed military operation against Iran would likely begin under a new name and mission, effectively restarting the 60-day congressional authorization clock.

Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Operation Epic Fury had ended and that the United States had achieved its objectives.

Ceasefire under pressure

Despite the ceasefire agreement reached in early April, tensions between the US and Iran have continued to rise in recent days. Iran has halted ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while the Trump administration has maintained its Iranian blockade.

According to US officials quoted in the report, Trump has not yet ordered a fresh military campaign against Iran, but discussions within the administration suggest that the possibility remains under active consideration.

One US official reportedly said the blockade strategy is aimed at maintaining pressure on Iran without immediately restarting large-scale combat operations.

Trump rejects Iran proposal

On Sunday, Iran reportedly submitted a new proposal through Pakistan aimed at ending the conflict. Trump, however, quickly rejected the proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable”.

Later, Trump said that the ceasefire was “unbelievably weak” and compared its survival chances to a patient with only a “1 per cent chance” of living.

He also reiterated his position that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, describing that issue as one of the biggest obstacles in negotiations.

Military planning continues

Trump said that he planned to meet a “large group of generals” to discuss the next steps regarding Iran. According to the report, senior officials including Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine recently held meetings to review military and strategic options.

The report also stated that the US military presence in West Asia is now larger than it was when Operation Epic Fury began in February. Additional naval strike groups and rearmed military assets have reportedly been deployed to the region.

Trump’s upcoming visit to China is also believed to be influencing the administration’s calculations. Washington has accused Beijing of supporting Iran during the conflict, including by allegedly helping Tehran target US assets in the Gulf.