‘You Close It And You Won’t Have A Country’: Trump Reportedly Says US Could Become ‘Guardian Angel’ Of Strait Of Hormuz

President Trump warned Iran it would cease to exist as a nation if it shut down the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the United States could become “Guardian Angel” of the vital waterway.

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Trump recounted his message to Tehran during a Sunday interview with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. “You close it and you won’t have a country,” Trump said he told Iranian officials, according to Yingst. “You won’t even make it back to your f*cking country.”

The president floated seizing control of the passage and charging vessels to cross it. “We may take over the Strait, if we have to,” Trump said. “If they don’t make a deal, we’ll collect tolls.” He suggested Washington could claim a fifth of the oil moving through and act as protector of the region, framing the cut as payment for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East,” PBS reported. (RELATED: Iran Declares Strait Of Hormuz Closed Amid Alleged Israeli Ceasefire Violations)

The threats carry weight only if a permanent agreement collapses. A memorandum of understanding signed last week guarantees toll-free transit for 60 days while negotiators chase a final nuclear deal, according to PBS.

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Trouble surfaced Saturday when Tehran declared the Strait shut over Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, though American officials rejected the claim that traffic had stopped, Fox News reported.

Trump also fired back at Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who insisted his country would never abandon uranium enrichment. “He better watch his mouth,” Trump said. “He better shape up or we’ll take over the rest of the country,” according to Fox News.

Diplomats from the United States and Iran opened talks Sunday at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating, Iran International reported. The Strait remained closed to shipping as the negotiations began, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard refusing to issue transit permits.

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