Trump Warns Iran: ‘Close Hormuz and You Won’t Have a Country’ as Geneva Talks Open

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei and United States President Donald Trump

Trump Warns Iran: ‘Close Hormuz and You Won’t Have a Country’ as Geneva Talks Open

United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, demanding that Tehran immediately halt support for its proxies in Lebanon or face escalated military action. The threat comes as American and Iranian delegations engage in high-stakes negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at implementing a fragile peace framework signed earlier this month. “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” .

The US president’s remarks appeared to target Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful regional ally, which has remained involved in clashes linked to ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon. The warning lands at a delicate moment for the peace process, as Vice President JD Vance leads the US delegation in talks focused on implementing a preliminary memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month. The memorandum includes provisions for a ceasefire in Lebanon, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. The talks, being mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, were originally scheduled for Friday but were postponed after Israeli military escalation in Lebanon disrupted the diplomatic timetable.

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Israel and Hezbollah have continued trading accusations of ceasefire violations, with Israeli strikes killing at least 20 people in Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported. Hezbollah accused Israel of committing hundreds of ceasefire violations and warned that continued attacks “will not pass without a response”. The renewed violence casts doubt on the durability of both the ceasefire and the broader US-Iran understanding that hinges in part on ending hostilities in Lebanon.

The situation was further complicated by Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as the Lebanon ceasefire is not respected. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday that the waterway would also remain closed until waivers allowing the sale of Iranian oil were issued. The strait, a critical oil shipping route, was blockaded by Iran for much of the war, sending shockwaves through global energy markets. Trump has warned Iran against closing the strait, telling Fox News: “You close it, and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your f**ing country”. He also threatened that the US could take over the strait, saying, “We may take over the Strait, if we have to. I’ll blow the sht out of them”. Trump proposed that the United States could become the “Guardian Angel” of the Strait of Hormuz and take “20% of the oil” if Iran fails to reach a deal. “If they don’t make a deal, we’ll collect tolls,” he added.

Vance has expressed cautious optimism about the talks, saying Washington wanted Iran to play a positive role in efforts for peace while stressing that Trump was committed to seeing a full regional ceasefire. The US vice president praised Pakistan’s mediatory role, stating that Pakistan’s contribution had been appreciated around the world. He said the technical negotiations “may not solve every disagreement, but it will allow us to sit together as teams for the first time in history”. The Iran delegation in Geneva includes parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with central bank and oil officials. Qatari and Pakistani mediators are also taking part in the talks. Neither Israel, Hezbollah nor the Lebanese government are party to the talks in Switzerland. Allowing Iran to introduce the Israel-Hezbollah conflict into the negotiations marks a shift in US strategy. The preliminary agreement gives negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal, including on Iran’s nuclear programme, though officials acknowledge the timeline may be extended. Iranian officials have said Lebanon is the focal point for peace talks with the United States, and Tehran has insisted that Israeli attacks on Lebanon must end before substantive talks can resume.