Trump warns ‘strong military action’ if Iran, Strait of Hormuz talks fail

The United States could become involved against the Iran-backed Houthis if the group creates new problems, as Washington works with Saudi Arabia amid the Iran war, President Donald Trump warned Monday.

“We’re dealing with Saudi Arabia, and it’s a problem that we had a while ago, and we knocked the hell out of it: We didn’t have any problems with the Houthis after that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to an event in Michigan.

“We’re not involved with that, but we may — you know, if they’re a problem, we’ll probably have to get involved.”

Asked whether Saudi Arabia had indicated that it would join the Abraham Accords, Trump said the subject had not come up.

“We haven’t talked about that,” he said.

Israel would not survive without American support, President Donald Trump said Monday, arguing that his military and diplomatic actions prevented the country from being destroyed.

“We’re being very nice to a lot of countries that would not survive without us,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to an event in Michigan.

“And you know who wouldn’t survive without us? Israel.”

Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was expected to meet with him, would confirm his assessment.

“If I didn’t get involved and if I didn’t blow up those nuclear — essentially soon-to-be nuclear weapons — to dust, as I call it, Israel would have been terminated,” he continued.

Trump also credited his decision to withdraw from the Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement, claiming Israel would have faced destruction “months ago” or “years ago” without his intervention.

President Donald Trump clarified the weekend reporting claiming the Pentagon is concerned about dismissing U.S. weapons stockpiles post President Joe Biden giving it away to Ukraine.

“We have a lot of ammunition, different types,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Michigan for an event. “You know, Biden gave a lot to Ukraine. And so we’re building that up.”

Trump insisted the U.S. has ample supplies of most weapons, including what he called “mid-level” ammunition, but conceded that inventories of more advanced systems could be stronger.

“For some of the more sophisticated stuff, we certainly would like to have more,” Trump said. “Biden gave a lot of it away.”

Military production is accelerating, Trump added, singling out Patriot missile systems and claiming major defense contractors are expanding manufacturing capacity.

“The Patriots in particular are being built,” Trump said. “Every one of our contractors is building four to five plants right now.”

Despite the concerns about the weapons stockpile replenishment, Trump said the U.S. remains “in very good shape,” outside some advanced weapons.

“When I left, the cupboards were full,” Trump said. “As soon as I left, they gave a lot of it to Ukraine — numbers that nobody’s ever seen before.”

President Donald Trump warned Iran that U.S. attacks would resume if negotiations fail, saying Tehran sought talks only after its military was battered by American forces.

“I think there’s a good chance that something could happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Michigan for an event Monday. “And if it does, good. If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”

Trump said Iran requested a meeting through intermediaries and directly after coming under sustained U.S. pressure, a claim that was rejected by other leaders in Iran.

“The only reason they want to meet is because we’ve been hitting them very hard,” he said. “Without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us.”

The president claimed Iran had asked the United States to halt its attacks, recounting appeals of “Please don’t, stop, don’t shoot” over several nights.

Trump said he was willing to give diplomacy time but made clear that the pause was conditional.

“I have plenty of time. Plenty of time,” he said. “We’re having good talks, so we’ll see what happens.”

Later during the brief press gaggle, Trump said Iran had “taken a beating” and “they asked us very nicely, ‘Please stop. Let’s meet.’

“And that’s where we are right now,” Trump continued, saying he will “see what happens.

“If we don’t make a deal, we go back to the same thing.”

President Donald Trump said he would question Russian President Vladimir Putin over allegations that Moscow supplied Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf, while dismissing any assistance as ineffective.

“We’ll find out if that’s true: I’ll ask Putin about it; we’ll find out soon,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to an event in Michigan on Monday, when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that Russia was helping Iran identify American targets.

Any Russian support had made little difference because U.S. forces had severely damaged Iran’s military capabilities, Trump added.

“Hasn’t had much impact because we’ve knocked the hell out of it, if that’s the case,” Trump said.

The president compared the alleged assistance to Russia’s military support for Venezuela, saying Russian equipment had failed to alter the outcome there.

“They may be giving, but if they are, it hasn’t worked out because they have no army, they have no air force, they have no navy, they have no nothing,” Trump said of Iran.

“I don’t think they’ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level. And if they have, it has been very unimpactful.”

Trump did not say when he planned to raise the matter with Putin or what action the United States might take if the allegation were confirmed.

President Donald Trump brushed aside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, declaring that no foreign leader would dictate which countries receive American military equipment.

“Tell them, look, Turkey has been a great ally for me,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Michigan.

“You know, I think he’s — he’s done a very good job, did a good job with Syria. He’s a friend of mine.

“And nobody tells me what we should be selling. And now Turkey has been a tremendous ally for me.”

Netanyahu has urged Washington not to provide Ankara with F-35s or engines for its fighter aircraft, arguing that the transfer would upset the regional balance of power and threaten Israel’s military advantage.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defense system. Trump has nevertheless signaled that he is open to reversing course, saying during a July 7 meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the United States would “certainly consider” a sale.

Any agreement would still face legal restrictions and likely resistance in Congress.

Trump emphasized Turkey’s military strength while acknowledging the deep hostility between Erdogan’s government and Israel.

“Turkey is not a big fan of Israel. You know that, right?” Trump said. “Turkey has been great. Very powerful country, by the way. Tremendous military, very big military, very powerful military, has a lot of great equipment.”

Despite rejecting Netanyahu’s position on Turkey, Trump also praised the Israeli leader’s performance during the conflict with Iran.

“But Bibi has been great,” Trump concluded. “He was a wartime prime minister. We did very well together. And if you look at Iran now, they’re 8% of what they were four months ago. They’re 8% of what they were four months ago. So we’ll see how this all comes out.”

President Donald Trump said Monday that Iranian assets controlled by the United States will be used to cover damage to ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re going to use Iran’s money to pay for the damage they did,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to an event in Michigan.

Trump said the funds would be used to compensate for damage attributed to Iran in the key global shipping route.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq reported drone attacks Monday as Iran and its allies appeared to test the pause in U.S. airstrikes.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones targeting petroleum sites, including in Riyadh, and blamed Iran-backed armed groups operating from Iraq.

Jordan said it shot down two drones, while Iraqi security sources reported additional attacks in the country’s north.

President Donald Trump said the U.S. is in “very deep talks” with Iran but warned there is “not much time” before possible “strong military action” if diplomacy fails.

Iran, meanwhile, denied seeking renewed negotiations and said it remained in control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters contributed to this report.

U.S. Central Command said Monday that U.S. forces have redirected 17 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two while enforcing compliance with the blockade.

The commanding force in the Middle East shared an X post showing U.S. sailor standing watch aboard the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., the guided-missile destroyer patrolling the Arabian Sea in support of the U.S. blockade against Iran, according to CENTCOM.

The Trump administration said Monday that the U.S. military has “more than enough munitions, ammo and stockpiles” to meet its strategic objectives amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly made the statement in response to a NewsNation reporter’s question about Axios reporting that concerns over dwindling U.S. missile-interceptor supplies contributed to a pause in American strikes on Iran.

Kelly also said President Donald Trump has urged U.S. defense contractors to maintain constant weapons production as the administration monitors military readiness and the country’s defense stockpiles.

The White House response pushes back on suggestions that ammunition shortages are limiting the administration’s options against Iran.

Congress needs to act to give the Department of War “greater magazine depth,” Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, warned Monday.

“Any nation wants their magazine death to be deeper,” Fallon, a House Armed Services Committee member and Air Force veteran, told “Mornings with Maria.”

“And that was always a concern of mine.”

Fallon was reacting to reports that White House Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine’s concerns about U.S. munitions stockpile being adequate to attack Iran but perhaps not enough to remove “risk” to U.S. service members in the region.

“I think Gen. Caine has done magnificent work: He’s probably the best Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman we’ve had since George Marshall,” Fallon said. “He’s exceptional and I agree.

“But I think honestly, every member of the Armed Services Committee would like to see our magazine depth, deeper. It just goes kind of hand in hand with having a military.”

Iran could face a far broader U.S.-Israeli military campaign if diplomacy collapses, retired Gen. Jack Keane warned Monday, saying the next phase would exceed previous strikes.

“Our plan is quite massive,” Keane said, arguing that renewed operations could destroy Iran’s remaining military capabilities and target the economic lifelines sustaining the regime.

“It exceeds everything that we did in Epic Fury and then some. And obviously the Israelis will participate.”

The three-day pause in strikes is not quite promising for lasting peace, leaving open the likelihood for more carrot than stick, Keane told “America’s Newsroom.”

“I’m highly skeptical anything will come of it,” he said. “The Iranians look at the Straits of Hormuz as a strategic asset. And believe me, they’re not going to give it up without a fight.

“That’s the path we’re on. And why? Because it gives them influence and control in the Middle East in a way that they never expected to have.

“And so will I maybe say we’ll stop firing on on you, therefore we’ll have negotiations, you stop firing on us. They may say that, but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to intimidate and coerce and control the straits.

“That’s where we are with these guys. and we’ll see what comes of it. But I’m highly skeptical we’re ever going to achieve anything.”

Keane also dismissed reports that depleted U.S. munitions would prevent a larger campaign, saying the military could manage stockpile concerns and reduce the threat by striking Iran’s ability to retaliate.

“So the guy who wrote that he knew what he was doing, he was taking a little piece of information and making it into a falsehood,” Keane concluded, referring to the Axios report Sunday. “And that report has no validity whatsoever.”

The Iran war is adding new pressure to already strained U.S. munitions stockpiles, raising the risk to American forces if the conflict expands, a national security expert warned Monday.

“We’re not in a comfortable place, which means you take on risk,” Brent Sadler of the Heritage Foundation told “Mornings with Maria.”

Sadler said the problem dates back more than a decade, with Congress and successive administrations failing to invest enough in weapons production capacity.

“It’s no secret going back all the way to 2012, when the briefings by the combatant commanders was not classified, that we had a munitions problem,” Sadler said. “Now, that’s not to say we don’t have enough munitions for the fight that we’re in right now with the Iranians.”

The Pentagon “knows what it needs,” according to Sadler, as that message comes with President Donald Trump asking Congress for more for the military.

“That’s the cuteness of these words that you hear from the Pentagon about what we can still achieve the mission, but there’s heightened risk, and it’s not having enough munitions for the unknown or the unexpected, that black swan,” he said. “But they know what they need.

“Congress – and, as well, the executive branch – for far too long have not been able to make the investments for well over a decade to grow the production capacity. And we’re starting to see the reality of that.”

The leaks are not giving the full picture, Sadler warned.

“But again, I’m very skeptical of leaked reports or reporting, because there’s far more to the picture than what’s being reported in the open,” he said.

Baker Hughes said in his conference call Monday that the Iran conflict is expected to disrupt some projects and supply chains, though strength in other parts of its business should offset the impact.

The oilfield services company did not immediately detail which operations could be affected.

The warning underscores growing concern that the war could complicate equipment deliveries and energy projects across the Middle East.

Reuters contributed to this report.

U.S. forces have helped facilitate the movement of nearly 500 million barrels of crude oil since early May as the Iran war disrupts shipping through key Middle East waterways, U.S. Central Command told Fox Business.

CENTCOM said July 21 that its forces had assisted the transit of about 900 commercial vessels carrying 450 million barrels of crude.

The latest figure suggests roughly 50 million additional barrels moved in six days.

Oil prices fell more than 7% to about $83 a barrel – rising back to $84 and around 5% down – as markets weighed the recent pause in U.S.-Iran strikes against continued risks to regional shipping.

Fox Business’ Lauren Simonetti contributed to this report.

U.S. natural gas futures fell about 3% to an 11-week low as record domestic production and ample storage outweighed global supply fears tied to the Iran war.

Front-month futures dropped to about $2.78 per million British thermal units, while Lower 48 output reached a record 112.3 billion cubic feet per day Sunday.

The decline contrasted with elevated prices overseas, where the Iran conflict and disruptions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine have kept European and Asian gas benchmarks near $20 and $22, respectively.

The split underscores how surging U.S. production has shielded the domestic market even as Middle East fighting continues to pressure global energy supplies.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Saudi Arabia said Monday that it reserves the right to respond after drones launched by Iran-allied armed groups in Iraq targeted oil facilities in Riyadh and the Eastern Province.

The kingdom’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones, according to Saudi officials.

No casualties or damage were immediately reported.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and warned that Riyadh could take further action, marking another sign that the Iran war is spilling across the region and threatening critical energy infrastructure.

The strikes coming from Iraq is noteworthy because of a recent diplomatic trip to the White House that was followed quickly by an Iraq diplomatic trip to Iran.

Reuters contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump has historically said he would never signal what he is going to do militarily before he does it – although he has used threats on striking Iranian targets as a leveraging tool for peace.

Now, he is spilling the beans with a Truth Social post titled “Strike on Kharg.”

Kharg Island has been talked about as a key Strait of Hormuz asset for Iran and a potential strategic target for a Trump takeover to help reopen the key oil shipping that has been attacked by Iran.

That Kharg post was followed by a series of Trump Truth Social image posts threatening to strike Iranian oil tankers and nuclear sites, along with Trump hailing the U.S. military as “guardian Angels of the world.”

China wants to protect Iran and see the President Donald Trump “tied down and humiliated” in the conflict, foreign policy expert Gordon Chang warned Monday.

“President Trump is trying to entice the Chinese and the Russians not to get involved,” Chang told “Mornings with Maria.” “And this was after Secretary of War Hegseth saying that China was enabling Iran. And Hegseth was right about that.

“Trump tried to soft play that, you know, I don’t know how the Chinese are going to react, but certainly they want to see us humiliated there.

“They want to protect Iran, their proxy. So they want that oil out of the region as well. So they’re going to be really in very difficult right now. And I think Trump’s going to have his hands full, especially when XI Jinping comes to Washington on the 24th of September.”

Twenty-nine vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz from Friday through Sunday as the Iran war continued to disrupt traffic through the critical oil shipping route.

Twelve ships crossed Friday, followed by six Saturday and 11 Sunday.

Traffic was heavier through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where 100 vessels crossed over the same period — 35 Friday, 31 Saturday and 34 Sunday.

Fox Business’ Lauren Simonetti contributed to this report.

Oil prices fell to a one-week low Monday after the United States and Iran paused strikes over the weekend, fueling hopes that diplomacy could ease the conflict and reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude dropped nearly 8% to about $89 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell roughly 7% to around $83.

Both benchmarks reached their lowest levels since July 20.

President Donald Trump paused U.S. attacks to give negotiations more time, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told “Fox News Sunday.”

But traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited, leaving uncertainty over when oil shipments could return to normal.

The market retreat followed a surge that briefly pushed Brent above $100 as fighting disrupted exports through the Strait of Hormuz and spread toward the Red Sea.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Mediators have made progress in efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to negotiations after three straight days without reported attacks, two regional officials told The Associated Press.

Qatar and Pakistan are leading talks aimed at restoring an interim ceasefire and resolving disputes over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran acknowledged that messages were being exchanged through mediators but said direct negotiations with Washington had not resumed.

Tehran also said the strait remained closed as Iran and Oman discussed a system for managing commercial shipping.

The pause followed nearly two weeks of strikes and counterstrikes that killed U.S. service members and raised fears of a broader Middle East war.

President Donald Trump remains resolute on the vow that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon as he weighs a major strike, if not operations to take Iran’s enriched nuclear material.

AP contributed to this report.

Iranian authorities claimed Monday that six vessels attempted to pass through what Tehran called an “unsafe” route in the Strait of Hormuz, with one ship suffering an “accident” and the other five being turned back toward the Persian Gulf.

That accident was reportedly due to hitting a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media Sunday.

An unidentified Iranian official told local media the vessels had switched off their navigation and positioning systems before entering the southern passage.

Iran said ships must use a Tehran-designated transit route through the strait, but offered no independent evidence supporting its account. The identities, ownership and conditions of the vessels were not immediately clear.

The United States is weighing how to secure Iran’s enriched uranium as the war raises new concerns about Tehran’s nuclear stockpile and the safety of American forces in the region.

Brian Kennedy, president of the American Strategy Group, told “Fox & Friends First” the mission could expose U.S. troops to Iranian retaliation.

He warned that American bases and personnel could become targets.

Kennedy argued that any operation must be backed by stronger missile defenses to protect U.S. forces as Washington considers its next move.

Jordan’s military said it intercepted and shot down two drones Monday as fighting linked to the Iran war continued to threaten neighboring countries.

The Jordanian armed forces said the drones caused no casualties or material damage.

Officials did not identify who launched them or their intended targets.

Jordan has repeatedly sought to keep the conflict from spilling across its borders as missiles and drones move through regional airspace.

Four American soldiers were killed in Iranian strikes on Middle East bases, including in Jordan.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Iran escalated its threats against Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and wounding another.

“Ukraine, too, may soon come to understand that Iran does not let actions go unanswered,” Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission, wrote Sunday on X. “The list of those who have miscalculated continues to increase.”

Iranian officials said the Saturday strike caused an explosion aboard the vessel.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and warned the incident “cannot go unanswered.”

Zelenskyy has said Ukrainian forces struck vessels in the Caspian Sea that Kyiv alleges were being used to transport military cargo linked to Iran.

Ukraine said it struck the vessel for attempting to supply Iran with weapons amid nearly two weeks of pounding strikes in retaliation of Iran’s having killed four American soldiers.

The renewed strikes came after Iran violated the memorandum of understanding (MOU), forcing President Donald Trump to resume pounding strikes on Iran’s Strait of Hormuz terror infrastructure.