Trump Warns Iran of 'Very Hard' Strike if Hormuz Strait Stays Closed
US President Donald Trump said Iran would be "hit very hard" if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping soon, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks had advanced toward resuming shipments. Oil prices fell on signs the standoff over the vital waterway may be easing.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran would be "hit very hard" if the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes, does not reopen fully to commercial shipping in the coming days. The strait has seen repeated disruptions since the outbreak of the Iran-US standoff earlier this year, with several tankers reporting attacks near its approaches.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both said separately that negotiations with Tehran had progressed enough to allow shipments to resume, though neither offered a firm timeline. Iranian officials have said they are engaged in indirect talks mediated by Oman and Qatar but have denied direct contact with Washington.
Oil prices fell on the news, with traders citing reduced fears of a prolonged closure of the strait. Analysts said the market would remain sensitive to further statements from either side until a written agreement on freedom of movement through Hormuz is confirmed.
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