US President Donald Trump says Iran will face severe military action if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, despite ongoing discussions aimed at reopening the strategic waterway.
US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face severe military action if it keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed, saying Washington is engaged in what he described as “very good discussions” with Tehran but remains prepared to resume missile strikes if negotiations fail.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News, Trump said he hoped diplomacy would prevail but insisted the United States was ready to act if Iran failed to honour its commitments or continued restricting access to the strategically vital waterway.
Trump says military option remains on the table
Trump said he expected the Strait of Hormuz to reopen soon, warning that failure to do so would trigger a forceful US response.
“The Strait’s going to be open very soon or they are going to get hit very hard,” he said.
He added that Iran had been warned against abandoning ongoing negotiations.
“If they back out again, they are going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that. I have no choice.”
While emphasising that his administration preferred a diplomatic resolution, Trump said military action remained an available option.
“I hope we won’t — we’re having very good discussions. They don’t like to admit that,” he said.
Iran denies direct talks with Washington
Iran has rejected Trump’s assertion that direct discussions are taking place with the United States.
Instead, Tehran says it is working through Oman to explore an arrangement that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining that there are no direct negotiations with Washington.
Iranian authorities have also tightened their control over the strategic waterway following months of heightened regional tensions.
State broadcaster IRIB reported on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed if the United States continued what Tehran described as violations against Iran.
“If the United States continues its violations, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened even if Iran and Oman reach an agreement,” the broadcaster quoted officials as saying.
Hormuz remains central to global oil trade
Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, also indicated that the waterway would not return to its pre-conflict operating conditions.
According to Iranian state-affiliated media, Ghashghavi said the Strait of Hormuz through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments typically pass would not return to normal operations under any circumstances.
The continued uncertainty over the strait has heightened concerns in global energy markets, with analysts warning that any prolonged disruption could affect international oil supplies, shipping costs and fuel prices.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It serves as a critical export route for oil producers across the Middle East, making any threat to navigation a significant geopolitical and economic concern.
