Trump Iran war threat escalates as Tehran claims Strait of Hormuz control

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

President Donald Trump warned any conflict with Iran would end fast as Tehran asserted sovereignty over the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

The president’s comments came after Iranian naval forces detained 2 foreign tankers and declared the waterway “integral Iranian territory” in a dramatic escalation of regional tensions.

The strait handles 21% of global oil shipments. Any disruption sends immediate shockwaves through energy markets. Military analysts warn closing the 21-mile channel could push crude prices past $150 per barrel within days.

“It’ll be over quickly if anything happens, that I can tell you,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have things that nobody’s ever seen before.”

The president declined to elaborate on military options but emphasized “all scenarios are on the table.” His remarks followed an emergency meeting with Defense Secretary Tom Cotton and national security advisor John Ratcliffe that stretched past midnight.

Iranian state television broadcast footage of Revolutionary Guard speedboats surrounding the Liberian-flagged tanker Prosperity and Marshall Islands-registered Stena Immaculate early Wednesday. Both vessels now sit anchored off Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. Their 44 crew members remain aboard under guard.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a rare televised address defending the seizures. “The Persian Gulf belongs to Iran,” he declared. “Foreign powers have plundered our resources long enough.”

European leaders scrambled to respond. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened an emergency cabinet session in Berlin. “We need de-escalation, not provocation,” Merz told reporters afterward. His government summoned Iran’s ambassador for the third time this week.

Oil markets reacted instantly. Brent crude surged 8.3% to $94.70 per barrel, its highest level since October. Gasoline futures jumped 12 cents to $2.89 per gallon. The spike erased earlier losses tied to recession fears.

“Every dollar increase costs American drivers $4 million daily,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service. “We’re looking at $4.50 gas by Memorial Day if this persists.”

The Pentagon positioned additional assets near the strait. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and destroyer USS Carney entered the northern Arabian Sea overnight. A defense official, speaking anonymously, said F-35 squadrons stand ready on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.

British maritime insurers raised threat assessments to maximum levels. Lloyd’s Market Association issued a bulletin warning ships to avoid Iranian waters completely. Premiums for vessels transiting the strait quadrupled overnight.

China urged restraint through its foreign ministry. “All parties should respect navigation freedoms guaranteed under international law,” spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. China imports 40% of its oil through the strait.

Russia struck a different tone. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed “Western aggression” for regional instability during talks with Iranian officials in Moscow. “Tehran has legitimate security concerns,” Lavrov insisted.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz has triggered previous confrontations. Iran repeatedly threatened closure during nuclear negotiations from 2010-2015. Tanker attacks in 2019 briefly sent oil prices soaring 15%. The US and allies established naval protection forces that year.

Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, reimposing sanctions that halved Iranian oil exports. Tehran responded by exceeding uranium enrichment limits set under the agreement. Current enrichment levels reach 83%, just below weapons-grade.

The waterway’s geography creates a natural chokepoint. The shipping lane narrows to 2 miles wide in each direction. Iran controls the northern shore while Oman guards the southern approach. Roughly 18.5 million barrels pass through daily.

What’s Next

The UN Security Council meets Thursday to address the crisis. European members drafted a resolution demanding immediate tanker release. Russia and China vowed to oppose any measure authorizing military action. Expect heated debate and likely veto of stronger language.