Trump warns Iran of 'very hard' response if Hormuz deal fails

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen "very soon" or face severe military consequences, warning Tehran that Washington was prepared to launch its largest attack since World War II if negotiations collapse. "The Strait is going to be open very soon — or they're gonna hit very hard, and then the Strait is going to be open," he told Fox News. Trump stated he had initially planned a "tremendous attack" against Iran but agreed to talks after officials in Tehran requested negotiations.

Threat of renewed strikes

"We were going to a tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II, and they called me and said, very politely, 'Please, can we talk? Can we talk?'... I said, 'Yes, we can talk. Let's get it done,'" Trump recounted. He reiterated that Iran would face devastating consequences if it abandoned the diplomatic process, emphasizing that Tehran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. "If they back out again, they're going to get hit really hard. They know that; they understand that. I have no choice. They can't have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple," he told the conservative network.

All-day talks in Oman

Trump told reporters in California that American and Iranian officials held an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday and that the parties were "moving along very nicely." The US, Iran and Oman are nearing an interim agreement to reopen the waterway and restore a ceasefire, with an announcement possible as early as Wednesday, according to Axios. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that talks regarding passage through crucial international waterways were not yet finalized but expressed hope an accord would come "very shortly."

Fragile ceasefire history

The United States and Iran have been engaged in open conflict since February, when Washington and Israel launched a joint offensive against Tehran that prompted retaliatory drone and missile strikes on Gulf nations hosting American assets. The sides agreed to a ceasefire in April and signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending hostilities, though the deal collapsed last month and triggered two weeks of renewed exchanges before Trump abruptly halted bombardment amid reports of fresh talks.