What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—May 8, 2026
U.S.
President Donald Trump | Comments to Journalists
“They trifled with us today [referring to Iranian attacks on U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz]. We blew them away. . . . If there’s no ceasefire, you’re not going to have to know. You’re going to have one big glow coming out of Iran. And they’d better sign their agreement fast. . . . The talks are going very well. But they have to understand—if it doesn’t get signed, they’re going to have a lot of pain.”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers. They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy. These boats went to the bottom of the Sea, quickly and efficiently. Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave! A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question — But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST! Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful Crews, will now rejoin our Naval Blockade, which is truly a ‘Wall of Steel.’”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“I had a great call with The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. We discussed many topics, including that we are completely united that Iran can never have a Nuclear Weapon. We agreed that a regime that kills its own people cannot control a bomb that can kill millions.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Comments to Journalists
“Well, we should know something today. I mean, we’re expecting a response from [the Iranian regime to the latest U.S. diplomatic proposal]. We’ll see what their response entails. The hope is it’s something that—it can put us into a serious process of negotiation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Comments to Journalists
“[T]he fundamental question every country . . . needs to ask themselves is, are you going to normalize a country claiming to control an international waterway? Because if you normalize that, you’ve set a precedent that’s going to get repeated in a dozen other places. And if the answer is no, we don’t want to normalize it, then you’d better have something more than just strongly worded statements to back it up.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Comments to Journalists
“Obviously, we’ve seen the reporting overnight that Iran has established or trying to establish some agency that’s going to control traffic in the straits. That would be very—that would actually be unacceptable. I mean, we’re—the normalizing of their controlling of an international waterway is both illegal and it’s just something that’s unacceptable. And the world has to start asking itself what is it willing to do if Iran tries to normalize a control of an international waterway. I think that’s unacceptable.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio | Press Interview
“Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at. And we’re not a stupid county. The redline is clear—if Iranian boats threaten Americans, they’re going to get blown up.”
“There are currently more than 70 tankers that U.S. forces are preventing from entering or leaving Iranian ports. These commercial ships have the capacity to transport over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth an estimated $13 billion-plus.”
Central Command | Press Release
“U.S. forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7. Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes. CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”
Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz | Comments to Journalists
“[Countries that] seek to throw it [a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that Iran stop attacks and mining in the Strait of Hormuz] out, are setting a very, very dangerous precedent. We have to ask ourselves, if a country chooses to oppose such a simple proposition, do they really want peace?”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright | Press Interview
“"It looks like [the Iranian regime has] likely already cut back their [oil] production, maybe by 400,000 barrels a day. They’ll likely continue to ramp down their production as their storage fills and their inability to export oil. . . . Hopefully, that’s an additional incentive for Iran to get to the end that everyone knows we’re going to get to, which is to end the Iranian nuclear program and to restore flow of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz. That day is coming. The question is, just with Iran’s cooperation or without Iran’s cooperation.”
Rep. Tom Barrett | Press Release
“Two things have been clear from the very beginning: Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the United States of America cannot be dragged into another endless war. The Commander in Chief has the sole authority to lead our troops in wartime, but I’ve lost too many friends on the battlefield to allow that to happen without Congress exercising its constitutional role to clearly define the mission with safeguards and a deadline. If we don’t learn from our foreign policy failures of the past, we are bound to repeat them.”
IRAN
Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i | X
“The Iranian envoy-led militia dominated the streets for 70 days and shifted the equations in favor of the front of righteousness. Our victory in the 40-day war is indebted to the conscious and magnificent presence of the insightful and loyal-to-the-Guardianship people of Iran.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi | X
“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire? Whatever the causes, outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure.”
Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani | Remarks to Journalists
“The United States has neither the legal, political, nor moral standing to portray itself as a defender of freedom of navigation or maritime security.”
GULF STATES
“The Ministry of Defense announced that on May 8, 2026, the UAE air defenses engaged 2 ballistic missiles and 3 drones originating from Iran, resulting in 3 moderate injuries. Since the start of Iran’s brazen attacks on the State of the UAE, the air defenses have engaged 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,263 drones. This brings the total number of injuries to 230 injuries.”
“Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed Mohammed Al Ansari has called for greater international cooperation and renewed diplomatic engagement to address growing regional and global instability. . . . Dr Al Ansari warned that some actors were seeking to promote political narratives and approaches aimed at advancing their strategic interests amid intensifying competition for influence and shifting global power balances. He stressed that political and military pressure did not necessarily lead to sustainable solutions or long-term stability, underlining the importance of mediation and diplomacy in resolving conflicts.”
EUROPE
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen | X
“I had a very good call with @POTUS. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and our close coordination with regional partners. We are united that Iran must never posses [sic] a nuclear weapon. Recent events have clearly shown that the risks to regional stability and global security are too great.”
SOUTH AMERICA
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | Comments to Journalists
“[President Trump’s claim that the war is over] is not reality. But he thinks so, and I’m not going to keep arguing with him because of the view he has of the war. . . . I think the invasion of Iran will cause more damage than he is imagining.”
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