U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his newly declared economic campaign against Iran does not restrict American military options, insisting Washington retains full control of the Strait of Hormuz region after announcing what he called an unprecedented economic war and isolation targeting Tehran.
Trump asserted that Iranian authorities have no money, navy, or air force, are unable to pay soldiers or police, and face 350 percent inflation. While Tehran would like to negotiate, he said, it is not prepared to reach the right deal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to provide details of the sanctions plan on Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the measures, calling the so-called economic D-Day a diversion from America's own crisis. The UK Maritime Trade Operations office reported Friday that traffic through the strait is roughly 90 percent lower than before the conflict, which began in late February with a joint U.S.-Israeli strike.