Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that any further attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would invite a much stronger American military response, following fresh US strikes on Iranian targets linked to maritime threats. The warning came hours after the United States launched additional military operations, saying they were carried out in retaliation for attacks on three commercial cargo ships transiting the strategic waterway.
Trump said the latest strikes were intended to hold Iran accountable for what Washington described as recent attacks on civilian shipping and reiterated that the United States would respond forcefully to any future aggression.
Trump issues strong warning
In a post on his Truth Social platform following the strikes, Trump said the military action was retaliation for Iran’s alleged attack on three cargo ships a day earlier.
“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!” he wrote while sharing videos and images that he said showed the aftermath of the US strikes.
Later, while speaking to reporters, Trump reinforced his warning, saying the United States would respond with overwhelming force to any future attacks.
“We hit them 20 to one. Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20… It was retribution for last night. They actually hit three boats, not two. When they hit, we hit back much harder,” he said.
US launches fresh strikes
The latest military action followed Trump’s declaration that the interim agreement aimed at ending hostilities with Iran was effectively over.
The US military said the operation targeted Iranian capabilities that could threaten freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had begun additional strikes to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.
“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway,” CENTCOM said.
Trump questions future negotiations
Despite the military escalation, Trump claimed Iran was seeking renewed negotiations with Washington.
According to the US President, Iran had suffered significant military losses and was now eager to reach an agreement.
“They called a little while ago, they want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal,” Trump said.
He also questioned whether Tehran would honour any future agreement, saying, “I don’t know that they’re going to honour the deal, that’s the problem.”
Interim agreement declared over
Before attending the NATO summit, Trump said he considered the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran on June 17 to have effectively collapsed.
When asked whether the United States was returning to full-scale conflict with Iran, Trump replied that he did not know but believed the US would prevail quickly if that occurred.
“It’s a very interesting question. To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them,” he said.
He added that even if another agreement were reached, he remained uncertain whether Iran would comply with its commitments.
Strait of Hormuz tensions intensify
The latest escalation followed reported attacks on three commercial cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes.
While Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, US officials have blamed Tehran, saying the incidents prompted the latest military response. The attacks have further heightened concerns over maritime security and global energy markets.
Iran warns of retaliation
Reacting to the American strikes, Iranian officials issued strong warnings of retaliation.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, wrote on social media that Iran would respond firmly to the attacks.
Meanwhile, Iran said it had launched strikes on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to earlier American attacks, while Washington maintained that its military operations were defensive measures intended to protect international shipping.
With both sides exchanging military strikes and diplomatic rhetoric hardening, tensions in the Gulf remain elevated, raising fresh concerns over regional stability, maritime security and the uninterrupted flow of global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.