President Donald Trump said the U.S. will secure and destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium and reject tolls in the Strait of Hormuz [1].
These statements signal a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward Iranian nuclear capabilities and the security of global shipping lanes. By threatening to physically seize nuclear materials, the administration is moving beyond traditional diplomatic sanctions to direct intervention.
Trump addressed the issue of nuclear proliferation by stating that the U.S. intends to take possession of the materials. He said that the U.S. does not need or want the uranium, but will ensure that Iran does not keep it [1].
"We will secure it," Trump said. "We don't even need it, we don't want it. We will probably destroy it after we secure it. We are not going to let them have it" [1].
Beyond the nuclear concerns, Trump focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. He said that a toll for passage through the strait will not be allowed [1].
This stance opposes any Iranian efforts to monetize or restrict the flow of maritime traffic in the region. The U.S. has historically maintained that the strait must remain open to international navigation to prevent global energy price shocks.
The remarks come as the U.S. continues to monitor Iran's adherence to international nuclear standards. The administration's focus on the physical destruction of enriched uranium suggests a policy aimed at the total elimination of Iran's capacity to produce weapons-grade material [1].
“"We will probably destroy it after we secure it."”
The combination of threats to seize nuclear material and the rejection of maritime tolls indicates a strategy of maximum pressure. By targeting both Iran's nuclear ambitions and its geographic leverage over oil shipping, the U.S. is attempting to neutralize Iran's primary tools of regional influence and international bargaining.
