US President Donald Trump renewed his threats against Iran, warning that Washington intended to deliver a “severe blow” to Tehran as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz intensified and Iranian officials claimed the country had adopted new tactics to target ships passing through the strategic waterway.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Wasilla, Alaska, on Tuesday evening, Trump said the war with Iran would end soon and declared that the United States had “run out of patience” with Tehran. He reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon and said energy prices would fall sharply once the conflict ended.
The warnings came amid reports that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed the possibility of a new, large-scale military operation against Iran. According to Axios, citing American and Israeli sources, the discussions took place last week and included the possibility of action before Israel’s elections and the US midterm elections on November 3.
Meanwhile, the US State Department said Washington had cut off the Iranian government’s ability to deliver money and supplies to its regional allies. Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Al Arabiya that Tehran no longer had the financial resources or logistical capacity to continue supporting its proxies.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), meanwhile, accused Iran of being the only country attacking civilian sailors transiting the Strait of Hormuz. It said American forces and regional partners continued to protect maritime traffic despite growing security risks.
In Tehran, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran had begun employing new offensive tactics against ships passing through the strait, but declined to disclose specific details. One official said Tehran had started using different methods about 10 days earlier against vessels it considered to be violating its restrictions. The official added that the changes involved the type and pace of attacks, with one stated objective being to influence the outcome of the US elections.
A US military official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said Iran had fundamentally changed its tactics. According to the official, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had begun deploying unarmed observers aboard small boats to monitor potential targets, including US Navy vessels.
Diplomatic efforts continued alongside the military escalation. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said in Islamabad that discussions with Iran on managing the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation were nearing completion.
However, Al-Busaidi said any understandings would remain pending until negotiations between Iran and the United States concluded with a permanent settlement on navigation through the strait. Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, he stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes and prevent further escalation.