Along with the announcement, Iranian authorities warned that ships attempting to travel through the narrow waterway could face significant danger. Because the Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes, any disruption immediately raises alarms throughout international energy markets.
American officials, however, quickly pushed back against Tehran’s claims.
According to U.S. Central Command, commercial shipping through the Strait continued without interruption on Saturday. Military officials reported that 55 merchant vessels successfully passed through the waterway while transporting more than 17 million barrels of oil.
The U.S. military also emphasized that American forces remain committed to safeguarding freedom of navigation and will continue monitoring the area to ensure commercial traffic can move safely despite Iranian threats.
Vice President JD Vance also dismissed Iran’s assertion during a television interview, stating that he had seen no indication the Strait had actually been shut down.
President Trump addressed the growing confrontation during an interview Sunday with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, offering one of his strongest warnings yet toward Tehran.
“You close it and you won’t have a country,” Trump reportedly said.
The president then delivered another blunt message directed at Iran’s diplomatic representatives.
“You won’t even make it back to your fu*king country,” he added in reference to Iran’s diplomatic delegation.
Trump also suggested the United States would not hesitate to take direct action if Iran attempted to interfere with international shipping.
“We may take over the Strait, if we have to,” Trump said. “If they don’t make a deal, we’ll collect tolls.”
The president further floated the possibility of a larger American role in protecting the crucial maritime passage, suggesting the United States could serve as the “Guardian Angel” of the Strait while taking 20% of the transported oil.
Trump’s remarks underscored his longstanding position that the United States should aggressively defend critical trade routes while ensuring hostile regimes cannot use global energy supplies as leverage against the West.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes.
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to participate in discussions with Iranian officials near Lake Lucerne. Representatives from Pakistan and Qatar are serving as mediators during the meetings as both sides work through the details of the interim agreement.
The negotiations are expected to focus heavily on technical aspects of Iran’s nuclear program, implementation procedures, and several remaining issues that negotiators have yet to resolve.
Vance described the latest round of talks as an opportunity to answer outstanding questions and determine whether both sides can continue moving forward under the temporary framework.
While diplomats pursue negotiations overseas, Trump’s forceful warning signals that his administration remains prepared to respond decisively if Iran follows through on threats to disrupt one of the world’s most important shipping corridors. With global markets watching closely and tensions remaining high, the coming weeks could prove critical as both military deterrence and diplomacy continue unfolding simultaneously.
