Washington weighs major strikes amid naval mine blasts in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic pushback from Tehran
WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could launch a major military strike involving a “heavy hit” on Iran, as tensions escalate across the Middle East following reported naval mine explosions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump addressed reports that Washington is considering strikes on targets inside Iran. “We have to do something large,” he said, reiterating his administration’s stance that Tehran “will never have a nuclear weapon.” The president also acknowledged that soaring domestic petrol prices had hurt Republicans during the recent midterm elections, noting that voters reacted negatively to elevated fuel costs at the pump.
Tehran rejected the warnings. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that American voters had rejected military escalation following midterm election gains by Democrats. “Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” Ghalibaf stated on X. He warned that if the US administration ignores domestic public sentiment, it will face severe retaliation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Tehran continues to seek dialogue, cautioning that a renewed war would serve no party’s interests. The diplomatic friction coincides with severe maritime disruptions, with Iranian authorities reporting that four commercial oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while attempting to transit the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor.
