Donald Trump warned Iran it would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacked US ships trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The US launched an operation to free hundreds of trapped merchant vessels, while more than 800 ships and some 20,000 crew remain stranded. The US military says it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted missiles and drones — claims Iran denies — and Iran says it struck a US frigate, which the US has not confirmed. The confrontation undermines a fragile Pakistan-brokered ceasefire and raises the risk of wider conflict.
Trump Warns Iran Will Be "Blown Off the Face of the Earth" If It Attacks US Vessels Near Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump speaks at a small business summit at the White House on Monday.Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images(Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Former US president Donald Trump warned that Iran would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it attacked American ships attempting to reopen a route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US launched an operation on Monday intended to free hundreds of merchant vessels and their crews trapped in the Gulf, a move that has raised fears of a broader confrontation in the region. More than 800 ships and roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded amid the disruption.
Claims and denials. The US military said it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones; Iran has denied those claims. Iran’s military command also warned it would strike any US naval vessel approaching the strait and said it had hit a US frigate with two missiles — a claim the United States has not confirmed.
Trump's remarks and military posture. Speaking to Fox News, Trump described the naval action as "one of the greatest military maneuvers ever done" and said Iranian officials had been "far more malleable" in recent negotiations. He added that US forces are well stocked with weapons and equipment worldwide and reiterated that the US would use its resources if necessary.
"We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before. We have the best equipment... We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it," Trump told Fox News.
Trump's latest threats echo comments in April, when he warned that a "whole civilization will die" if Tehran did not comply with his demands over the strait — remarks that drew widespread domestic and international criticism.
Wider implications. The flare-up casts doubt on a fragile, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire reached last month that halted active fighting but did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery through which about one-fifth of global oil typically moves. US Central Command said Monday that US forces had redirected 50 commercial vessels amid the ongoing blockade.
Analysts warn that escalating rhetoric and military operations raise the risk of miscalculation. Independent verification of some battlefield claims remains limited, and both sides continue to present conflicting accounts.
Help us improve.
