The White House signaled that U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing additional military strikes against Iran as Washington increases pressure on Tehran to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and abide by terms set out in a recent truce agreement that rapidly collapsed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the administration’s frustration, stating that Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on a cease-fire with the United States last month but quickly violated the agreement by targeting commercial shipping and killing American service members. Speaking following a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, President Trump told reporters that U.S. military operations are expected to continue, warning that Washington will hit targets “very hard” until Tehran comes to the table in a meaningful way. The escalation comes after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed to have struck two more oil tankers in the maritime transit corridor, while Kuwait’s Defense Ministry confirmed its armed forces intercepted incoming Iranian drones targeting military facilities within its airspace. With Iran maintaining tight restrictions over navigation through the strategic waterway and requiring transit fees from commercial traffic, maritime disruptions have pushed global oil prices higher and triggered additional security escorts across regional shipping lanes. U.S. administration officials emphasized that financial and military pressure will remain sustained until Iran halts maritime attacks and complies with international navigation standards in the Persian Gulf.
