Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran over its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route for global oil supplies. Trump told Iranian officials that if the waterway were shut, the United States would “take over” the country, a statement signaling a sharp escalation amid ongoing tensions related to the conflict in Lebanon.

The threat came after Tehran announced plans to blockade the strait in response to Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. These Israeli strikes, which have killed more than 4,000 people according to official figures, have drawn widespread condemnation and raised concerns over the fragility of the ceasefire agreement brokered earlier this month.

Trump reportedly conveyed to Iranian contacts that closing the Strait of Hormuz would lead to severe consequences, saying, “You won’t even make it back to your f***** country,” as reported by news correspondent Trey Yingst. The president’s remarks represent a notable hardening of his stance in the wake of his attempts to extricate the U.S. from the conflict initiated earlier in the year.

The escalating conflict has also complicated diplomatic efforts. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland to lead discussions with Iranian officials aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire and preventing further escalation. The recently signed 60-day ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran includes extensions of sanctions relief and provisions for unfreezing Iranian assets, contingent on Tehran’s cooperation. The deal also incorporates language similar to that of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which Trump withdrew from in 2018, reaffirming Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons.

However, the administration’s approach has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, including conservative Republicans who view the deal as a repeat of past mistakes. Senator Bill Cassidy described it as “the worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” arguing that prior to the conflict, sanctions were pressuring Iran, the strait remained open, and fewer American lives were lost. He expressed concern that Iran has now gained economic and strategic advantages, including plans for new infrastructure development under the agreement.

A central point of contention involves a $300 billion economic redevelopment fund for Iran, which the White House insists will be funded by regional investors rather than U.S. taxpayers. Critics on both the right and left, however, view the fund—combined with sanctions relief and asset unfreezing—as effectively a substantial concession to Tehran.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials continue to oppose the ceasefire, viewing it as insufficient in containing Hezbollah and Iranian influence in Lebanon. Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked outrage after calling for harsh measures against Lebanon, remarks that have intensified tensions even as the United States seeks to manage the broader crisis in the region.

The situation remains volatile, with Washington caught between managing diplomatic agreements with Iran and responding to Israeli military actions that risk undermining the ceasefire and destabilizing the region further.