Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States could launch a major military response if Tehran attempts to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Mr Trump said the US would strike Iran “twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far” if it blocked the passage of oil through the key maritime route.
He added that American forces could target what he described as “easily destroyable targets”, saying such action could make it “virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back as a nation again”.
The president also warned that “Death, Fire and Fury” would follow if Iran moved to stop shipping through the strait, although he said he hoped the situation would not escalate to that point.
The comments come amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing disruption to shipping in the narrow passage, which normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil exports.
Iranian officials have dismissed the remarks as empty threats. A senior security official warned the United States to “be careful not to be eliminated yourself”, highlighting the risk of further escalation between the two countries.
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