The United States military is considering officially renaming the ongoing war with Iran as “Operation Sledgehammer” if the current ceasefire talks between the countries collapse and US President Donald
Trump decides to again restart major combat operations, as per two US officials.
The discussion around changing the name from “Operation Epic Fury” to “Operation Sledgehammer” underlines how seriously the Trump administration is thinking of resuming the war, which started on February 28.
Trump Admin Considering Iran War’s Name Change To Restart 60-Day Clock?
The changing of the name can also allow Trump to argue that the 60-day clock for getting the congressional authorisation for war has restarted.
The Trump administration announced an end to Operation Epic Fury after both countries agreed to a ceasefire in early April and decided to continue diplomatic negotiations.
The Trump administration at that time had informed Congress that the conflict with Iran had ended.
Also Read: 60-Day Deadline That Could Halt US-Iran War Ends Today: What Next For Trump?
However, the Pentagon has continued to call the war with Iran “Operation Epic Fury”. A Pentagon official had also said that Operation Epic Fury is continuing and that the major combat operations have been paused due to the ceasefire.
According to a White House official, the US will conduct any new military combat operations against Iran under a new name, and this would restart the clock with Congress.
As per the US officials, Operation Sledgehammer is not the only name that is under consideration.
Speaking to reporters last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Operation Epic Fury “is over.”
“The president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it,” said Rubio, during a White House briefing. “Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” he added.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the US president must inform Congress within 48 hours of initiating combat operations. If congressional approval is not secured, military forces must be withdrawn within 60 days. However, offensive combat operations under Epic Fury were halted after 40 days, and the Trump administration has maintained that the 60-day limit has therefore not been breached.
US Rejects Iran’s Proposal
In the past few days, the US and Iran have exchanged fire as Tehran stopped ships from crossing the Strait of Hormuz and Trump continued the blockade.
Also Read: Ceasefire ‘On Life Support’: Why Every Attempt At A US-Iran Deal Keeps Collapsing
Iran had sent its latest proposal to end the war to the US on Sunday through a mediator. Soon after, Trump rejected the plan and wrote on social media in all caps that it was “ Totally Unacceptable!”
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, the president said a key obstacle remains his demand that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, while describing the current ceasefire as “unbelievably weak.”
“I would call it the weakest right now, after reading the piece of garbage they sent us, I didn’t even finish reading it, they said — I’m not going to waste my time reading it. I would say it’s one of the weakest right now,” said Trump.
“I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living,” he added.
