Trump says Strait of Hormuz will open very soon and warns of a very hard response if talks fail

In remarks published early on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the US president said talks with Tehran were going "very well" and that the Strait of Hormuz would open "very soon". He simultaneously warned that if Iran stepped back from the negotiations or the strait did not reopen, it would face a very hard military response.

The comments came as US and Iranian officials signalled they were approaching an interim arrangement to reopen the strait, a prospect global markets have already priced: Brent crude fell about 6 percent on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, dropping below $80 a barrel for the first time since July 13.

The Strait of Hormuz is the main chokepoint for Persian Gulf oil exports, and its status feeds directly into global oil prices, currency expectations inside Iran, and maritime freight costs.