Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced today, July 12, 2026, in a live interview that US forces have 'hit them hard' by bombing positions in Iran in response to maritime threats, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remains open despite Tehran's claims.
Trump's Stern Message Following Overnight Strikes
As tensions in the Persian Gulf reach their peak, Donald Trump issued a decisive message to Tehran officials today during an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press'. Referring to recent airstrikes by US forces, Trump stated: 'The Strait of Hormuz is open. We hit them hard last night. They are very bad and sick people' [1][3]. These remarks come as Trump dedicated a significant portion of his interview to mourning the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, before addressing the critical situation in the Middle East at the conclusion [2].
War of Narratives: Is the Strait Open or Closed?
Hours before Trump's remarks, Iranian officials claimed they had blocked the vital waterway 'until further notice.' However, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected this claim in an official statement. CENTCOM emphasized that US forces are deployed to guarantee freedom of navigation in the region and that maritime traffic continues to flow [1][5]. Reports indicate that in the third wave of attacks this week, more than 140 military targets on Iranian soil, including drone and missile sites, were struck by US fighter jets and drones [5].
Failure of the June Agreement and Escalation of Conflict
The current crisis is rooted in the failure of the June 17, 2026, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to end the months-long war. Trump claimed that Iran attacked a commercial vessel with a drone just one hour after leaving the negotiation room and agreeing to a 'perfect deal' [3][6]. This violation of the ceasefire led to the resumption of large-scale hostilities, which have now spread to ports and oil export facilities, including Kharg Island [2].
Global Consequences and Energy Security
As the world's most important energy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz is seeing a heavy presence of international fleets. Analysts warn that despite Trump's insistence that the route is open, the risk to navigation has reached a 'very severe' level [1]. Oil prices are experiencing extreme volatility in global markets, and regional countries have expressed concern over the conflict spreading to Oman and other Persian Gulf nations [5][6].
Military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have led to disruptions in shipping routes and retaliatory strikes.
linkSources
- Trump claims strait of Hormuz open to commercial traffic despite Iran earlier announcing closure — The Guardian (2026-07-12)
- Trump: Strait of Hormuz is open after US forces 'bombed the hell out of' Iran — Fox News (2026-07-12)
- Trump'tan son dakika Hürmüz Boğazı mesajı: Onları fena bombaladık! — Haber 7 (2026-07-12)
- 2026 Iran war: Conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption — Britannica (2026-07-10)
