Trump's remarks on Truth Social
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has "almost total control" of the Strait of Hormuz, while saying Iran's economy is "totally collapsing", amid escalating tensions in the region. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was not seeking to force Iran into negotiations and dismissed reports that he was trying to bring Tehran back to the bargaining table.
"I'm not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported," Trump wrote, according to reports from ANI and India Today. "I couldn't care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing. They are just playing out the inevitable."
Trump also called on Iranians to challenge their government, asking, "When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?" This call was reported by ANI, citing Trump's post.
Context of the post
India Today reported that Trump's post on Truth Social came hours after the US launched a barrage of airstrikes against Iran. The outlet also reported that Trump dismissed an ABC News report that he was trying to force Tehran back to the negotiating table.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which a significant portion of the world's oil shipments pass. Control over the strait has been a point of tension between the US and Iran, with both sides having previously threatened to disrupt or defend shipping lanes in the area.
Iran's economy has been under severe pressure from US sanctions, which have been reimposed and tightened since the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018. Trump's characterization of Iran's economy as "totally collapsing" reflects a broader narrative of pressure on Tehran, though the full extent of the economic situation has been a subject of ongoing debate.
Missile strikes reported
Meanwhile, missile strikes were reported near the southwestern Iranian cities of Ahvaz and Aghajari, according to IRIB, Iran's state broadcaster, as reported by ANI. The details of these strikes, including their origin and any damage caused, were not specified in the reports.
US officials had not publicly confirmed the airstrikes at the time of the reports, and it was unclear whether the missile strikes were part of the same operation or a separate incident.