President Donald Trump said American forces are continuing attacks on Iran after Tehran targeted commercial shipping and U.S.-linked sites across the Middle East, while Iranian authorities declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and oil prices climbed.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz as American forces continued striking Iranian military targets and Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions and allies across the Middle East.
The renewed fighting followed Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire with Iran was over after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked commercial vessels in the strait over the weekend and claimed authority over passage through the strategically important waterway.
Iran subsequently launched missiles and drones toward targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Jordan, where U.S. military personnel and facilities are located.
The escalation sent oil prices higher Monday as concerns grew over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major route for global energy supplies.
Trump said during a telephone appearance on “Fox & Friends” that Iran was losing its military capabilities under sustained American attacks.
Iran is getting its “ass kicked,” Trump said.
He asserted that the country’s navy, air force and missile forces had been nearly destroyed and referred to Iranian leaders killed during the conflict.
“We’re taking over the straight. They have nothing. They’ve got nothing,” Trump said.
The president described recent negotiations as another example of Iranian officials agreeing to terms and then seeking additional changes.
“So, something that nobody knows. Yesterday they had an 11 hour meeting. Everything’s 11 hours with these guys. You know, you can’t settle in one sentence and one hour and one minute. It should be one minute,” Trump said.
“And everything was agreed to yesterday. And they leave the room and they call back and they say we had to make a couple of changes,” he continued.
Trump said the United States would not accept further revisions.
“We’re not going to make changes. Always changes. They just, you know, they’re professional negotiators. That’s all they are. I don’t even call them good at it. They haven’t gotten anything, they’ve got nothing from me,” Trump said.
“But if you look for 47 years they’ve been tapping people along, presidents. Every president got tapped along, didn’t do anything, and they became more and more powerful,” he added.
Trump separately stated, “We’re taking over the strait. They’ve got nothing.”
His comments came as the Iranian body calling itself the Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed because of U.S. military activity.
“Due to recent hostile actions by the US forces, passage through the Strait of Hormuz is currently unfeasible,” the authority said in a statement posted on X.
“As soon as stability and calm are restored, all applications will be reviewed in accordance with the scheduled timeline, and the permitting process will resume,” the statement continued.
The organization instructed ship operators to seek permission through its website.
“Remember that the sole means of obtaining a passage permit is via our website,” it said. “For the latest news and updates, follow our account on X. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”
The United States has rejected Iran’s claim that it controls the strait and authorized U.S. Central Command to strike Iranian military targets after the attacks on commercial vessels.
American forces launched a large wave of strikes against Iran in response to the IRGC’s actions in the waterway.
The conflict then expanded when Iran fired toward regional countries hosting American troops, installations or logistical operations.
The latest exchange marked the return of open fighting after Trump terminated the ceasefire, saying Tehran had broken the agreement through renewed attacks.
The administration has maintained that the United States will defend commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from imposing unilateral control over the international shipping corridor.
With American attacks continuing and Iran launching retaliatory strikes across the region, the conflict remained active Monday as oil markets reacted to the renewed threat to maritime traffic.
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