Donald Trump said the United States would "bomb the hell out of the shoreline" in Iran if required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee unimpeded passage for international shipping.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump spelled out a posture of continued U.S. military pressure, saying American forces would keep targeting Iranian vessels and coastal positions to deny Tehran the ability to menace the critical waterway.
He cautioned that, despite what he described as a weakened Iranian military capacity, Iran could still attempt to interfere with traffic through the strait by employing drones, laying naval mines or using short-range missiles. Those are the specific vectors he identified as potential methods Tehran might use to disrupt maritime transit.
Trump also said he hoped nations that would be affected by any Iranian attempt to obstruct the route - naming China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom - might send naval forces to the region to operate alongside U.S. units in maintaining security and keeping the shipping lane open.
Why the Strait matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman and is one of the world’s most significant energy chokepoints. According to the information in this report, it handles roughly a fifth of global oil shipments. Because of that volume, any interruption of traffic through the strait can have a rapid and pronounced effect on global oil markets and on energy supply chains.
Context and implications
The comments outline a strategy that relies on continued U.S. military targeting of Iranian maritime and coastal assets to deter or respond to threats. They also signal an appeal for allied naval presence from several countries identified by name, reflecting a desire to build international support for securing the waterway. The potential for disruption is framed around specific threats: drones, naval mines and short-range missiles.
Summary
Trump announced a readiness to use significant force against Iranian coastal positions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, affirmed ongoing U.S. strikes on Iranian boats and coastal targets, warned of potential Iranian tactics to disrupt the strait, and expressed hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom would contribute naval assets to help keep the vital shipping lane accessible. The strait handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments, and disruptions can quickly affect oil markets and energy supply chains.