Trump Warns Iran, Takes Strong Stance on Hormuz

Updated: 12:17 PM PKT — June 23, 2026

On June 23, former US President Donald Trump issued a major statement concerning the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional developments.

Updated: 5:55 AM PKT — June 23, 2026

Following a rise in oil prices on June 22 linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, reports on June 23 indicated that the price of petrol in Pakistan has since decreased.

Updated: 8:20 AM PKT — June 22, 2026

Oil prices rose on Monday as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed significantly following Iran’s announcement that it had re-closed the critical waterway. Tehran cited alleged violations of the interim peace deal by the US and Israel as the reason for the closure, creating a bumpy start to peace negotiations in Switzerland.

The renewed uncertainty was compounded by US President Donald Trump threatening to resume attacks on Iran, even as talks were underway. Regional tensions were further stoked by Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed at least 20 people, threatening a recent ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Updated: 7:17 AM PKT — June 22, 2026

As the first round of high-level US-Iran talks concluded in Switzerland, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that his country had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports and the release of some frozen assets. The negotiations, however, were marked by tension, with Iran announcing it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, citing a failure to halt fighting in Lebanon.

While US officials disputed the closure, shipping data showed a sharp drop in traffic through the critical waterway, from 26 vessels to just five on Sunday. Conflicting reports also emerged about the talks, with Iranian media stating their delegation left the room after threats from the US president, while a US diplomat insisted the Iranians “never left” and that negotiations continued indirectly via mediators late into the night.

Updated: 6:11 AM PKT — June 22, 2026

President Asif Ali Zardari paid an emotional tribute to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on what would have been her 73rd birth anniversary, describing her as a leader who defied convention and redefined the role of women in Pakistani politics. In a message, he said she showed that “leadership is never one-dimensional,” remembering her as a patriot and a global citizen committed to peace.

Benazir Bhutto, born on June 21, 1953, made history as the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation. Zardari’s message portrayed her legacy as one of courage and conviction that continues to resonate in Pakistan’s political memory nearly two decades after her assassination.

Updated: 8:26 PM PKT — June 21, 2026

As negotiations between the US and Iran commenced in Switzerland, US President Donald Trump issued a series of new, severe threats against Tehran. He warned he would ‘destroy Iran’ if a deal is not reached and that the Iranian delegation might not be able to return home. Speaking to reporters, Trump also stated that if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, ‘it will not be a country,’ and that the US could take control of the waterway and impose fees.

Trump characterized the current talks not as a deal but as a ‘temporary extension of a ceasefire,’ asserting that he could do as he pleased after 60 days. The talks are being attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. PM Sharif credited Trump’s ‘statesmanlike leadership’ for enabling the negotiations and highlighted Field Marshal Munir’s important role in the process.

Updated: 7:25 PM PKT — June 21, 2026

As US-Iran peace talks commenced in Switzerland, US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran. In a message on his Truth Social platform, Trump threatened to “hit Iran very hard again” if it did not “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble.”

The threat is a direct reference to Hezbollah, whose recent clashes with Israel are reportedly jeopardizing the preliminary peace deal between Washington and Tehran.

Updated: 5:47 PM PKT — June 21, 2026

Iran has identified its top priorities for the ongoing talks with the United States in Switzerland, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman announced. The most critical topics for Tehran are the ongoing tensions in Lebanon involving Israel and Hezbollah, and what Iran calls Israel’s continuous ceasefire violations.

In addition to the situation in Lebanon, Iran will push for the release of its frozen financial assets held abroad and the easing of related sanctions. The spokesman also confirmed that securing permits and licenses for the sale of Iranian oil to remove export obstacles is a key item on the negotiation agenda.