Sen. Chris Murphy called a classified White House briefing on 'Operation Epic Fury' 'incoherent,' saying it failed to address key objectives such as dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure and offered no clear end state. He warned the administration has 'NO PLAN' to secure the Strait of Hormuz, risking prolonged conflict and rising oil prices. Separately, three vessels were reportedly struck near the strait and the U.S. says it has 'eliminated' 16 Iranian mine-laying ships.
Senator Brands Trump’s Iran War Plans 'Incoherent' After Secret 'Operation Epic Fury' Briefing
Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images(Roberto Schmidt)
A closed-door White House briefing outlining President Trump's long-term approach to Iran — described internally as 'Operation Epic Fury' — was sharply criticized by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) as 'incoherent' and incomplete.
Murphy warned about the lack of a plan in a worrying X thread. / Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Murphy, who attended the classified session, posted on X that the briefing omitted several of the administration's publicly stated objectives, including any discussion of plans to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure. 'I obviously can’t disclose classified info, but you deserve to know how incoherent and incomplete these war plans are,' he wrote.
An explosion in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, Iran. / Social Media / REUTERS
According to Murphy, the administration has shifted its public framing and now says regime change is not the goal, despite earlier comments from the president that suggested otherwise. Murphy warned that without a clear political end state, U.S. strikes risk draining hundreds of billions of dollars, costing American lives, and potentially leaving a more hardline, anti-American regime in place.
Both Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Trump have claimed it isn't a regime change war. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
So, they are going to spend hundreds of billions of your taxpayer dollars, get a whole bunch of Americans killed, and a hardline regime - probably a MORE anti-American hardline regime - will still be in charge.
Murphy said the briefing emphasized kinetic targets — 'destroying lots of missiles and boats and drone factories' — but failed to explain how Iran would be prevented from resuming production once strikes stopped. When pressed, officials reportedly hinted at continued bombing, raising the prospect of an open-ended campaign.
He also charged the administration with having 'NO PLAN' for securing the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic chokepoint that connects Gulf oil producers to global markets. Murphy said the resulting disruption has already contributed to rising oil prices at a politically sensitive moment ahead of U.S. midterm elections.
Separately, the U.K.'s maritime agency reported three vessels were struck by unknown projectiles near the strait, and the U.S. military says it has 'eliminated' 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the area. The conflict has sharply constrained global energy flows.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Trump has also said the U.S. has a 'virtually unlimited supply' of munitions, a remark critics say highlights the danger of an open-ended confrontation.
Questions Raised By Lawmakers
- What is the political end state of the campaign if regime change is not the objective?
- How will the U.S. prevent Iran from reconstituting military capabilities after strikes cease?
- What concrete plan exists to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
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