Washington, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has kept open the possibility of further military escalation against Iran while rejecting Tehran’s reported demand for compensation and claiming that the US Navy has complete control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Asked about the outcome of the latest round of talks with Iran, Trump twice told reporters at the White House: “You’ll find out.”
When asked whether a major military escalation remained an option, Trump said the US had the capability to pursue one if it chose to do so.
“Well we have that — certainly that ability if we want to do that, yeah. You’ll find out,” Trump said.
Trump also addressed Iran’s reported demand for compensation for damage caused by US actions. He argued that Tehran should instead pay damages to people he said had been killed or injured by Iran over the past five decades.
“They asked for, uh, reparations, you might say, or they asked for money for the damage that we’ve done,” Trump said. “I said, that’s a good idea. Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50 year period.”
He referred to people allegedly killed or wounded by Iran and their families, including those affected during protests and unrest in the country.
“If there’s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,” Trump said.
Trump provided no details on the status of the talks or the military measures that could potentially be considered.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the waterway remained open but claimed that US forces exercised complete control over passage.
“The only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy,” he said.
Trump described the US presence in the waterway as an effective blockade, saying vessels were allowed to pass but were not permitted to travel to Iran.
“So it’s actually open now. We do not let them go into Iran. They’re not admitted into the strait to go to Iran. But it’s open for others,” he said.
Trump acknowledged that Iran could potentially disrupt shipping by laying mines in the waterway, but claimed US forces had conducted mine-sweeping operations.
“We’ve mine swept the entire strait,” Trump said. “We control the strait 100 per cent.”
He also claimed that Iran was facing severe financial difficulties, including problems paying its soldiers and inflation of more than 300 per cent. The claims were not independently confirmed in the transcript of his remarks.
“They’re broke, they have no money,” Trump said, adding that Iran had destabilised the Middle East for five decades and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries.
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a crucial route for global energy shipments. Prolonged disruption in the waterway could affect oil supplies, freight and energy prices worldwide.
Trump also briefly commented on Israel, saying he had posted his response on Truth Social after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposed Hamas agreement.
“The relationship is very good,” Trump said.
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