US Claims Iran Was Weeks Away From Nuclear Weapon When Operation Epic Fury Began

US military operations against Iran continue to escalate as President Donald Trump revealed that Tehran was just weeks away from acquiring a nuclear weapon when Operation Epic Fury began in February. The operation, launched by US Central Command on February 28, targeted Iranian military and security infrastructure, including missile sites, air defenses, naval assets, and command-and-control locations.

The Treasury Department also announced that Iran loaded no crude oil onto tankers during September, a significant development in the administration's economic pressure campaign against Tehran. This comes as the US continues to maintain its military presence in the region, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit being sent to the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern due to ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with international energy shipments remaining at risk. In September, 19 liquefied-natural-gas cargoes exited the Strait, according to data from S&P Global Energy.