US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face a severe military response if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, saying Tehran would be “hit very hard” if it fails to reopen the strategic waterway.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States was engaged in “very good discussions” with Iran but cautioned that military action remained an option if negotiations collapsed.
“The Strait’s going to be open very soon or they are going to get hit very hard,” Trump said.
“If they back out again, they are going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that. I have no choice.”
While expressing hope for a diplomatic resolution, the US president stressed that missile strikes remained on the table if Iran failed to honour its commitments.
“I hope we won’t — we’re having very good discussions. They don’t like to admit that,” he said.
Iran, however, has denied engaging in direct talks with the United States, insisting instead that it is working with Oman on an arrangement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran has also reinforced its control over the strategically important waterway.
“If the United States continues its violations, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened even if Iran and Oman reach an agreement,” Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, reported on Wednesday.
Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, also said the waterway would not return to its pre-war status.
According to Iranian state-affiliated media, Ghashghavi said the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global crude oil shipments typically pass, would not revert to normal operations under any circumstances.
