US to hit Iran '20 times harder' if it stopped oil flow in Strait of Hormuz, says Trump

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Iran that Washington would respond with overwhelming force if Tehran attempted to halt oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies.

In a post on social media, Trump said the United States would escalate military action sharply if Iran disrupted the waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moves.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote.


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The president went on to threaten wider destruction if Tehran attempted to block the passage.

“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!”

Trump added that maintaining open shipping lanes through the strait would benefit countries heavily dependent on the route for energy supplies.

“This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”

Strait of Hormuz at the centre of tensions

The warning comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran has rattled global shipping and energy markets, with commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted amid the fighting.

The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global crude oil exports from Gulf producers.

Trump has previously indicated that Washington could take steps to secure the route, including deploying the United States Navy to escort commercial tankers through the strait.

Earlier, in a phone interview with CBS News, Trump suggested the military campaign against Iran was nearing its objectives and progressing faster than initially expected.

Mideast crisis: Trump says war against Iran ‘very complete’, claims Tehran has 'nothing left'

“I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” he said. “[Iran has] no navy, no communications, they've got no air force.”

The president also said U.S. operations were ahead of his earlier estimate that the war could take four to five weeks to complete.

“We're very far ahead of schedule,” he told CBS News.

Oil markets and sanctions considerations

Trump has also indicated that the White House is weighing measures aimed at easing pressure on energy markets, including potentially waiving some oil-related sanctions and ensuring tanker traffic continues through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at a news conference earlier, the president said the administration was focused on preventing further spikes in crude prices.

“We’re looking to keep the oil prices down,” Trump said. “They went artificially up because of this excursion.”

His comments come as oil markets have swung sharply since the conflict began, with investors closely watching the stability of shipping lanes in the Gulf.