US President Donald Trump stated that American forces struck Iran "very hard" overnight, while simultaneously insisting that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial traffic.
The remarks, made during a morning interview with CNN, mark a significant escalation in public rhetoric from the White House regarding the ongoing geopolitical standoff in the Persian Gulf.
The assertion of direct military action, if confirmed, represents a sharp intensification of US pressure on Tehran.
Trump’s insistence that the chokepoint is open serves as a direct counter-narrative to growing market fears of a potential blockade.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil consumption, and any disruption to transit through the narrow waterway would trigger immediate volatility in energy markets and freight rates.
This development follows a period of heightened tension, with previous reports indicating that the US had warned Iran of "massive" military consequences if negotiations did not accelerate.