WASHINGTON, 10 Mach. - (ANA) - US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be hit "20 times harder" if it attempts to stop oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, hours after suggesting the ongoing war in the Middle East could end "very soon".

 

In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump repeated an earlier warning made during a news conference in Florida hours earlier, where he declared that US attacks could increase sharply if Iran sought to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid anger over a sharp rise in oil and gas prices worldwide.

 

"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," he said.

 

However, Trump also told lawmakers at Monday's press conference that the campaign would be only a "short-term excursion" but that although "it’s going to be ended soon... if it starts up again they’ll be hit even harder".

 

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it would not allow any oil to leave the region if attacks from the US and Israel continue.

 

 

"We are the ones who will determine the end of the war," a spokesperson said, describing Trump’s comments as "nonsense", according to state media.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/10 March 2026 - - -