Washington, US President Donald Trump kept open the possibility of a major military escalation against Iran, rejected Tehran\u2019s demand for compensation and asserted that the US Navy had complete control of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what would follow the latest round of talks with Iran, Trump twice told reporters: \u201cYou\u2019ll find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A reporter asked whether a massive escalation remained on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell we have that \u2014 certainly that ability if we want to do that, yeah. You\u2019ll find out,\u201d Trump said during an interaction with the media at the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said Iran had sought money for damage caused by the United States. He responded by arguing that Tehran should compensate the victims of its actions over the past five decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey asked for, uh, reparations, you might say, or they asked for money for the damage that we\u2019ve done,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI said, that\u2019s a good idea. Well, we\u2019re going to ask for money for the damage they\u2019ve done over a 50 year period,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump referred to people allegedly killed or wounded by Iran and the families of protesters he said had been killed during unrest in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe think they \u2014 their family should get damages for killing their person or their child or mother or father that were protesting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,\u201d Trump added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president did not provide details about the status of the talks or explain what military steps were under consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz was open, but claimed the US Navy controlled passage through the strategically important waterway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have a blockade that\u2019s been infallible. It\u2019s a steel wall and we let people in that we want to let in and those people come in and they\u2019re going out,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president said vessels were being permitted to use the strait but were not allowed to travel to Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s actually open now. We do not let them go into Iran. They\u2019re not admitted into the strait to go to Iran. But it\u2019s open for others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said Iran could still disrupt maritime traffic by placing mines in the waterway. He said American forces had conducted mine-sweeping operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve mine swept the entire strait,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe control the strait 100 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump claimed Iran was financially exhausted, was struggling to pay its soldiers and was experiencing inflation exceeding 300 per cent. The transcript provided no independent confirmation of those claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re broke, they have no money,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIran is broke, totally broke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He accused Tehran of destabilising the Middle East for five decades and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been the bully of the Middle East,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd now they\u2019re paying a price.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical passage for international energy shipments. Any sustained military disruption in the waterway can affect oil supplies and shipping costs worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also briefly addressed Israel, saying he had posted his response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s rejection of a proposed Hamas agreement on Truth Social. \u201cThe relationship is very good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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