Iran issues dire warning about President Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade: ‘Forceful response’
Iran’s navy warned Sunday that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz will face a “strong and forceful response,” AFP via Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Iran issued a sharp warning on Sunday, saying that any military ships moving toward the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a breach of a fragile cease-fire and could trigger what it described as a “strong and forceful response.” The warning came shortly after President Trump declared a move to restrict access to the vital global oil passage.
Earlier in the day, President Trump said the United States intended to halt “any and all ships trying to enter or leave” the Strait of Hormuz until a situation is reached where oil flows freely in both directions without interference from Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy rejected the claim that it had lost control of the waterway, insisting it remains operational and open for civilian traffic. In a statement carried by semi-official Iranian outlets, the force said the Strait continues to function under what it called “smart control and management,” while maintaining that non-military vessels can pass according to established rules.
At the same time, the IRGC warned that any military presence approaching the Strait would be seen as violating the cease-fire arrangement.
President Trump has argued that a cease-fire agreement reached last week was supposed to ensure the Strait of Hormuz—through which a significant share of global seaborne oil shipments passes each year—remains open and unrestricted. However, Iran has faced accusations of trying to impose fees on passing vessels and of laying mines in the area that have made navigation more dangerous. Those actions would conflict with the cease-fire terms requiring uninterrupted transit.
Despite the rising tensions, U.S. officials said two American Navy destroyers recently passed through the Strait on Saturday and reported shooting down an Iranian drone during the transit. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance led a U.S. delegation for negotiations with Iranian representatives in Islamabad, Pakistan, lasting nearly 21 hours over Friday and Saturday. The talks ended without an agreement, and the American team departed.
Iranian state media later indicated that no new round of negotiations is planned. The Fars News Agency quoted an unnamed Iranian official saying the country was in no rush and would not alter conditions in the Strait unless the United States agreed to what Tehran considers a reasonable deal.
According to a U.S. official familiar with the discussions, the negotiations included several major demands from the American side: ending uranium enrichment, dismantling nuclear facilities, retrieving highly enriched uranium stored underground, joining a broader regional peace framework, cutting support for allied armed groups, and fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump later posted on Truth Social that while many issues had been agreed upon, the central dispute involved nuclear activity. Following the breakdown, he said the United States would begin the process of restricting maritime movement through the Strait, though no specific timeline was provided for full implementation.
He also said the goal would eventually be a system where “all being allowed to go in, all being allowed to go out,” while accusing Iran of preventing that outcome. The United States, he added, “will never be extorted.”
U.S. forces have additionally deployed minesweepers to the region to help secure safe passage for commercial shipping. President Trump also warned that any Iranian attempts to fire on U.S. or civilian vessels would be met with severe retaliation, saying mines laid in the waterway would be destroyed.
About Post Author
