Trump says he would strike Iran next week as Hormuz tensions rise

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview that he would “strike Iran very hard next week” as tensions with Tehran over the Middle East escalate. Reuters reported the remark, which comes amid a broader flare-up of confrontations in the region.

Trump also said the United States would provide naval escort for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, adding that he hopes the situation can be resolved peacefully and that officials would “watch how it unfolds.” The timing of the interview could not be confirmed.

Earlier statements by Trump, on March 3, tied the oil-price surge to the Middle East tension and echoed a pledge that the U.S. Navy would escort tanker traffic through the Hormuz Strait “as quickly as possible” if needed. Those comments appeared as international crude prices climbed amid the standoff.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was described as newly elected in the article, broke his silence on the 12th with a hardline posture and a warning about blocking the Strait of Hormuz. By that day, global oil prices hovered around $100 per barrel, according to the report.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, through which a sizable share of global crude exports transit. Any disruption there can quickly influence energy markets and security calculations for major consuming nations, including the United States.

For U.S. readers, the evolving U.S.-Iran dynamic matters beyond regional risk. A potential U.S. decision to extend naval escort duties or to strike could affect oil prices, supply chains, and the stability of global markets. It also intersects with U.S. defense commitments in the Gulf and broader policy considerations toward Tehran.