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US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran “very hard” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Speaking in an interview on Fox News, Trump said “very good discussions” were underway with Tehran, but warned that if Iran backed out of their commitments he would return to launching missiles.
“The Strait’s going to be open very soon or they are going to get hit very hard,” he said.
“If they back out again, they are going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that. I have no choice.”
Trump said while he would rather pursue a diplomatic agreement, the missile option was not off the table.
“I hope we won’t — we’re having very good discussions. They don’t like to admit that,” he said.
Iran has denied holding direct discussions with the US. Instead, Tehran says it is working with Oman on an arrangement to reopen the strait.
The Middle Eastern country has also strengthened its control over the contested narrow waterway.
“If the United States continues its violations, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened even if Iran and Oman reach an agreement,” state broadcaster IRIB reported on Wednesday.
Hassan Ghashghavi, a spokesperson for Iran’s national security and foreign policy commission, told Iranian state-affiliated media that the critical waterway, through which one-fifth of global crude oil typically flows, would not return to its pre-war status under any circumstances.
