Is America’s Operation Epic Fury really over?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US’s military campaign against the Iranian regime has finished, and there are growing reports of a US-Iran peace deal in the offing. Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant break down the top three news stories you need to know today, from why Donald Trump has ended Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz to the importance of talks between Iran and China.

Plus, did a spat over the Iran war prompt Trump to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany last week? Berlin correspondent James Rothwell explains the significance of America’s significant troop presence in the country and why America’s pull-out is fuelling speculation that Nato is well and truly over.

Highlights

• The end of Operation Epic Fury amid growing talks of a peace deal
• Why Trump has pulled troops from Germany following Iran war spat

CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

James Rothwell, Berlin correspondent @JamesERothwell

CONTENT REFERENCED:

David Blair: Trump now has three options. They are all bad

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/06/trump-three-options-all-bad/

Akhtar Makoii: Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei have more in common than they realise

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/06/trump-and-mojtaba-khamenei-have-more-in-common-they-realise/

Donald Tusk: Nato is disintegrating

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/02/donald-tusk-nato-is-disintegrating/

Why the US cannot fight another war after Iran without China’s help

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/30/us-cannot-fight-another-war-after-iran-without-china-help/

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells

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