US President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of a major military escalation against Iran, rejected Tehran’s demand for compensation and claimed that the US Navy has full control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Asked what would happen after the latest round of talks with Iran, Trump twice told reporters, “You’ll find out.”
When asked whether a major escalation remained an option, Trump said the US had the capability to take such action if it chose to, adding that details would become clear later.
Trump said Iran had sought compensation for damage caused by US actions. He countered that Tehran should instead pay damages for what he described as harm caused by Iran over the past 50 years.
He referred to people allegedly killed or injured by Iran and the families of protesters who, he claimed, had died during unrest in the country.
“If there’s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,” Trump said, without providing details about the status of negotiations or the military measures under consideration.
Trump also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz remained open but said the US Navy exercised complete control over passage through the waterway.
He described the US blockade as highly effective, saying vessels were being allowed to pass but were not permitted to travel to Iran.
According to Trump, the strait was therefore open for other maritime traffic, while access to Iran remained restricted.
The US president acknowledged that Iran could still attempt to disrupt shipping by laying mines in the waterway, but said American forces had carried out mine-clearing operations.
“We control the strait 100 percent,” Trump claimed.
Trump further alleged that Iran was financially exhausted, struggling to pay its military personnel and facing inflation of more than 300 per cent. The claims were not independently verified in the transcript.
He accused Tehran of destabilising the Middle East for decades and blamed Iran for hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries, calling it the region’s “bully” and saying it was now facing consequences.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a vital route for global energy shipments. Any prolonged disruption to traffic through the waterway could affect oil supplies and increase shipping costs worldwide.
Trump also briefly commented on Israel, saying he had posted his response on Truth Social after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposed agreement involving Hamas. Trump said relations between the US and Israel remained “very good”.
