The Pentagon is actively preparing to rename military operations against Iran to "Operation Sledgehammer" if the fragile ceasefire collapses and President Donald Trump orders a resumption of major combat, according to U.S. officials familiar with the planning.
The shift from the current "Operation Epic Fury" to a new operation name carries significant legal weight. It would allow the Trump administration to reset the War Powers Resolution clock, which typically requires congressional authorization for military action after 60 days of combat. Operation Epic Fury lasted 40 days before the U.S. and Iran agreed to halt major combat in early April, and the administration has contended that clock never fully commenced.
The naming discussion underscores how seriously military planners are taking the possibility of renewed warfare. State Department officials have already begun signaling the end of Epic Fury. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared last week that "Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation." Sledgehammer is not the only name under consideration, officials said.
Tensions show no signs of easing. Trump has grown deeply pessimistic about diplomatic prospects, and the current ceasefire arrangement is deteriorating rapidly. Iran has blocked ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. maintains a blockade that prevents Iranian commerce. Both sides have exchanged fire in recent days as the standoff hardens.
Trump's public comments on the ceasefire have become increasingly scathing. After Iran submitted a new proposal through a mediator on Sunday, he rejected it outright on social media as "totally unacceptable." Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday, he described the current agreement as "one of the weakest right now" and compared Iran's chances of diplomatic success to a critically ill patient with "approximately a 1% chance of living."
The president has not ordered a restart of combat operations, officials stressed, but he is exploring options to break the stalemate. One official noted that the current blockade provides "decision space without major combat operations or putting a lot of folks at risk," but acknowledged that "the status quo will not persist."
Trump is preparing to meet with military leadership to discuss Iran strategy. On Monday, Secretary of State and interim National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gathered to assess options for the Strait of Hormuz and broader Iran policy. The president remains focused on his demand that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons, a core obstacle in negotiations.
The timing of Trump's trip to China this week is also factoring into decision-making. Officials have indicated that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is a priority that may influence when and whether he orders military resumption. China is Iran's largest oil buyer and has faced U.S. sanctions for allegedly supplying Tehran with satellite imagery to target American forces during the initial conflict.
Military readiness for renewed operations has improved considerably. The U.S. has added another carrier strike group to the region and replaced equipment used during the first phase of Epic Fury. One official stated that "we are in a better spot now than on Feb. 27. We have more firepower and capability," suggesting the military would have stronger advantages if ordered back into combat.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The Pentagon doesn't rename wars on a whim, and Sledgehammer is not a gentle metaphor. This signals planning for something far more aggressive than the measured strikes of the first campaign."
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