Trump said the United States could become the “guardian angel” of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes. He said the U.S. could take control of the waterway if needed, collect tolls from ships, and even take 20% of the oil passing through it.
Trump warned Iran not to shut the Strait of Hormuz. He said he told Iranian officials, “If you close it, you won’t have a country.” He also claimed he gave Iran a strong warning during their talks.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran to rein in the groups it supports in Lebanon, saying continued attacks could trigger a stronger U.S. military response. He said Washington is prepared to strike Iran again and even harder than it did last week if the situation escalates.
Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran will not give up its right to enrich uranium. In response, Trump said Iran should be careful with its language and warned that the U.S. could take further action if tensions rise.
Trump also said around 19 million barrels of crude oil left the Persian Gulf in a single day because of the understanding reached with Iran. He added that he has a 60-day option under the deal and can decide what to do after that period.
Speaking about Lebanon, Trump said he is disappointed that Israel has not been able to fully defeat Hezbollah. He said military operations should be more precise and suggested Syria could potentially play a larger role in maintaining stability.
On Gaza, Trump said Hamas is not currently the main problem. He argued that Iran is the bigger issue and said that once the Iran situation is resolved, many other regional conflicts could become easier to manage.
Vice President JD Vance defended U.S. efforts in Lebanon after being questioned by an Iranian reporter. Vance said President Trump has done more than any other government to reduce the conflict in Lebanon and is working with countries including Qatar, Pakistan, and Israel to achieve broader peace across the Middle East.
Update: Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and head of the negotiating team in Switzerland, posted on social media on June 21 that Iran ignores US threats. He warned Washington to choose its words carefully and stated that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond differently, adding, “we will be the ones to act.” Earlier, Trump posted that “Iran must immediately stop its ‘proxies’ in Lebanon. If not, we will strike Iran again, like last week, and only harder.”
