Trump leaves military escalation against Iran as a possible option.
Trump keeps the option of military escalation against Iran open as tensions continue to rise between the two countries.
- Donald Trump kept open the possibility of a major military escalation against Iran, telling reporters “You’ll find out” when asked what comes next in talks.
- He rejected Iran’s demand for compensation for US-caused damage and instead argued that Tehran should pay damages for harm it has caused over the past 50 years.
- Trump claimed the US Navy has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, describing an “infallible” blockade and saying vessels are allowed through but not to Iran.
- He said American forces have mine-swept the entire strait and that “we control the strait 100 percent.”
- Trump asserted that Iran is financially exhausted, with inflation over 300 percent, and accused Tehran of being the “bully of the Middle East” for five decades.
US President Donald Trump has kept the door open to a major military escalation against Iran, rejected Tehran’s demand for compensation, and asserted that the US Navy now has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump twice answered questions about what comes next in talks with Iran by saying, “You’ll find out,” leaving the future of negotiations and potential military steps deliberately unclear.
“You’ll find out”
When asked whether a massive escalation remained on the table, Trump did not rule it out. Washington’s demands are not met. The remarks come amid a broader standoff over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a significant share of the world’s oil shipments.
Compensation and counterclaims
Trump said Iran had sought money for damage caused by the United States, a demand he dismissed and turned around. “They asked for, uh, reparations, you might say, or they asked for money for the damage that we’ve done,” he said. “I said, that’s a good idea. Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50 year period.” He referred to people allegedly killed or wounded by Iran and to families of protesters he said had been killed during unrest in the country. “We think they — their family should get damages for killing their person or their child or mother or father that were protesting,” he added.
“We control the strait 100 percent”
Trump also claimed that the US Navy now has full control of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He said vessels were being permitted to use the strait but were not allowed to travel to Iran. “So it’s actually open now. They’re not admitted into the strait to go to Iran. Trump acknowledged that Iran could still disrupt traffic by placing mines in the waterway, but said American forces had already conducted mine-sweeping operations. “We’ve mine swept the entire strait. We control the strait 100 percent.”
“Iran is broke, totally broke”
The president painted a picture of a financially exhausted Iran, saying the country was struggling to pay its soldiers and was experiencing inflation exceeding 300 percent. “They’re broke, they have no money,” Trump said.
Regional context and Israel
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for international energy shipments. Any sustained military disruption in the waterway can affect oil supplies and shipping costs worldwide, with ripple effects on global markets. Trump also briefly addressed Israel, saying he had posted his response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a proposed Hamas agreement on Truth Social. “The relationship is very good,” he said, signaling that US–Israel ties remain strong even as Washington navigates complex regional dynamics.