President Donald Trump said the U.S. will secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium and block the country from collecting tolls in the Strait of Hormuz [1].
These statements signal a hardline approach to nuclear proliferation and maritime security, potentially complicating ongoing cease-fire negotiations involving the Persian Gulf's most critical waterway.
Speaking at a White House event in Washington, D.C., Trump addressed the issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities [1]. He said the U.S. would take possession of the enriched uranium, noting that the U.S. does not need or want the material [1]. Trump said the U.S. would likely destroy the uranium after securing it to ensure Iran does not retain it [1].
Beyond nuclear concerns, the president focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway essential for global oil shipments [1]. Trump said the U.S. will not allow Iran to levy tolls for ships passing through the strait [1]. This maritime corridor remains a primary flashpoint for tension between the two nations.
"We will secure it. We don't even need it and we don't want it. Probably we'll secure it and then destroy it. We're not going to let them have it," Trump said [1].
The president's remarks emphasize a strategy of total removal regarding Iran's advanced nuclear materials. By linking the nuclear issue with the economic and strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz, the administration is framing these requirements as non-negotiable terms for regional stability [1].
“The U.S. will secure Iran’s highly-enriched uranium.”
The insistence on the physical removal and destruction of enriched uranium, coupled with a refusal to recognize Iranian tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, suggests a policy of maximum pressure. By targeting both Iran's nuclear ambitions and its primary economic lever in the Gulf, the U.S. is attempting to dictate the terms of any future cease-fire or diplomatic agreement.
