'Better Not Try Anything Cute': Trump Warns Iran Of Taking Over Strait Of Hormuz Amid Oil Crisis

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 09:42 IST

President Trump warned Iran against disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening severe retaliation and hinting at possible US control.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning that Tehran should not attempt “anything cute" and saying the United States is considering taking control of the strategic waterway.

“They’ve shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute, or it’s going to be the end of that country," Trump said in a phone interview with a CBS News senior White House reporter.

Trump also indicated that Washington could intervene directly in the crucial maritime corridor.

“Ships are moving through now, but I’m thinking about taking it over," he said.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, carrying a significant share of global oil supplies.

According to an Associated Press report, Iranian attacks in the strait have already disrupted tanker traffic and nearly halted shipments through the corridor.

OIL MARKETS RATTLED BY WAR

The conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered major volatility in global energy markets.

Oil prices briefly surged to nearly $120 per barrel, their highest level since 2022, amid fears that the war could choke off supplies moving through the strait.

Prices later retreated toward $90 per barrel as markets reacted to signals that the conflict may not last long.

Iran’s attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have all but stopped tankers from using the route, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes, the report stated.

Iranian missiles and drones have also targeted oil and gas infrastructure in major producing countries, while attacks on merchant vessels near the strait have killed at least seven mariners, according to the International Maritime Organisation cited by AP.

TRUMP THREATENS STRONGER US RESPONSE

Trump has repeatedly warned that any Iranian attempt to block the waterway would trigger a far stronger US response.

In a social media post, the US President said Tehran would face overwhelming retaliation if it interfered with global oil shipments.

“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," Trump wrote.

The warning comes as the war, which began on February 28, continues to escalate across the region.

The fighting has targeted military bases, government facilities and energy infrastructure, while millions of civilians have sought shelter as airstrikes and missile attacks intensify.

According to AP, the conflict has also forced foreigners to flee key business hubs and triggered widespread disruptions to global energy markets.

IRAN SIGNALS WAR WILL CONTINUE

Iranian officials have pushed back against Trump’s claims that the conflict could soon end.

Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said Tehran would determine the timeline of the war.

“Iran will determine when the war ends," Naini said in remarks published by Iranian state media and cited by AP.

The warning underscores growing fears that further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could deepen the conflict and threaten global energy supplies.

News world 'Better Not Try Anything Cute': Trump Warns Iran Of Taking Over Strait Of Hormuz Amid Oil Crisis

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