US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the “offensive stage” of the Iran war is over, describing it as an “operation” that has concluded. He adds that US forces will respond only if they are attacked. The comments come amid multiple incidents in the Strait of Hormuz that both sides portray as testing a ceasefire. A BBC report cites an Iranian official who says Iran’s actions indicate the ceasefire is not assured and that Iran is “just getting started,” contrasting with Rubio’s assessment that the offensive phase has ended. Neither source provides detailed information on the ceasefire’s terms, the incidents’ causes, or a timeline for any broader de-escalation. Taken together, the reports reflect competing characterisations of the conflict’s current stage: Rubio frames the situation as having moved beyond an offensive phase, while the Iranian official suggests escalation may still be forthcoming. The US position presented by Rubio focuses on restraint and conditional military response.