Donald Trump warned Iran of complete annihilation in response to attacks on U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz, while noting a shift in Iranian negotiation tactics.
Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran
In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump issued a strong threat to Iran, stating the country would face “total destruction” if it attacked American vessels protecting the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump simultaneously observed a change in the attitude of Iranian negotiators, assessing them as more willing to make concessions.
Threat of “Wiping Off the Face of the Earth”
Fox News journalist Trey Yingst reported that Trump threatened the Iranians with being “wiped off the face of the earth” if they attacked U.S. ships. Trump also affirmed that the U.S. has replenished supplies of certain types of ammunition.
“We have more weapons and ammunition of much higher quality than we’ve ever had before,” Trump stated. “We have the best equipment. We have it all over the world. We have bases all over the world. They’re all equipped. We can use it, and we will if we have to,” he declared.
Iran “Significantly More Receptive” to Negotiations
Trump assessed that Iran has become “significantly more receptive to influence” in peace negotiations.
U.S. Forces Sink Iranian Attack Boats
Earlier, Adm. Brad Cooper, the U.S. commander for the Middle East, reported that Iranian forces conducted several attacks using cruise missiles, drones, and attack boats against U.S. ships and merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. As a result, the U.S. reportedly sank six of these boats.
Cooper declined to assess the effects of the Iranian attacks or answer whether the exchange of fire constituted a violation or end to the ongoing ceasefire.
Call for South Korean Involvement
Trump also addressed the attack on a South Korean cargo ship, encouraging authorities in Seoul to “join the mission.”
“Maybe it’s time for South Korea to join the mission! We destroyed seven small boats or, as they call them, ‘fast’ boats. That’s all they have left. Aside from the South Korean ship, no damage was reported during the passage through the strait,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
