Trumps Threatens to Bomb Iran Despite Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could resume bombing Iran if talks fail to produce a deal.

He made the remarks on Friday evening, April 18, 2026.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that the chances of a diplomatic solution are quickly narrowing.

Trump Warns US Could Resume Bombing Iran if Talks Fail

When asked whether he would extend the temporary truce set to expire on Wednesday, the president said he might not do so, warning that the U.S. could resume bombing if no agreement is reached.

“I don’t know… but maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade, and unfortunately, we’ll have to start dropping bombs again,” said the US president.

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However, he also told reporters that he is confident that a deal is going to happen, and dismissed the idea of Iran imposing restrictions or tolls on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Announces Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

His remarks come just a day after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels on Friday, April 17, 2026, following weeks of disruption linked to the broader conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the waterway would remain open during the ceasefire period, although vessels would be required to follow designated routes coordinated by Iranian authorities. Tehran, however, warned it could shut the strait again if the United States maintains its naval blockade on Iranian ports and ships.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane that handles a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, had seen sharply reduced traffic after Iran imposed restrictions earlier in the conflict.

Also Read:Trump Escalates Pressure on Iran With Threat of Expanded Maritime Blockade

Trump initially welcomed the reopening, describing it as a positive development, but maintained that U.S. pressure, including the naval blockade, would remain in place until a broader agreement with Iran is fully secured.

The United States entered the 2026 war with Iran mainly to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons and to respond to what it called a serious threat from Iran’s nuclear programme, missiles, and allied armed groups in the region.

The US and Israel said the war was meant to prevent future attacks, after the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal and failed talks that followed. They said their goals were to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, weaken its missile programme, reduce the power of its allied groups, and protect key shipping routes in the region.

The war began on February 28, 2026, with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites. It has continued for several weeks, with only short and temporary pauses.

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