US President Escalates Rhetoric on Hezbollah, Strait of Hormuz and Syria Option
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran on Sunday, demanding that Tehran immediately stop supporting armed groups in Lebanon and threatening renewed military action if it fails to do so.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran must halt the activities of what he described as its “highly paid proxies” in Lebanon, an apparent reference to Hezbollah. He warned that if Tehran did not comply, the United States would strike Iran again.
Trump also delivered a stark warning over the Strait of Hormuz during an overnight conversation, according to remarks cited by Fox News. He said he had told Iranian officials not to close the strategic waterway, adding that any such move could trigger a severe American response.
Trump Floats Syria Role as Pressure on Iran Mounts
Meanwhile, Trump suggested that Washington could take direct action over the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, as tensions continued to rise over regional security and maritime stability. The comments come amid heightened concern over the future of shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes.
In the same conversation, Trump reportedly revived the idea of Syria playing a role against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the report, he argued that Syrian forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa could potentially confront Hezbollah more effectively and with greater precision than Israel.
Trump had previously floated the same idea on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, where he criticized Israeli military operations in Lebanon as too imprecise. His latest remarks suggest he is continuing to explore alternative regional arrangements as part of a broader pressure campaign on Iran and its allies.
The comments are likely to add to already heightened tensions across the region, particularly as questions remain over the implementation of recent understandings involving Iran, Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. Neither Tehran nor Hezbollah immediately responded publicly to Trump’s latest statements.
