Trump says US hit Iran ‘very hard,’ Hormuz remains open

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump was “not shy of using force” when Iran breaks its commitments, while still seeking to test the chance of a negotiated nuclear agreement.

“I think President Trump wants to exhaust the possibility of achieving an agreement, especially on the nuclear issue, through negotiations,” Netanyahu told NBC News in an interview about the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham. “But he is obviously not shy of using force when the Iranians break every commitment they make.”

Netanyahu said Graham had urged action against Iran’s nuclear program, describing him as a fearless supporter of Israel and a critic of Tehran.

“He came to me and said, Bibi, you have to do it. You have to knock out this nuclear weapons program before they knock us out,” Netanyahu said.

US Central Command on Sunday rejected an Iranian commander’s claim that foreign vessels could not pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked and monitored by Iran’s forces.

CENTCOM said Iran did not control the Strait of Hormuz and that it remained an international waterway.

It said US forces were positioned and prepared to keep the waterway open.

Iran’s recently created Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on Sunday that transit through the Strait of Hormuz was not possible at present, citing what it called "recent illegal movements" by US military forces in the region.

The authority said on its X account that requests for passage would be reviewed and permits issued according to schedule once stability and calm were restored.

The statement came shortly after US Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz remained open and that traffic was flowing through the international waterway.

US Central Command said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open to vessels seeking lawful transit, adding that Iran did not control the international waterway.

“US forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available despite unwarranted Iranian aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations,” CENTCOM said.

It said US forces had facilitated the transit of more than 800 ships and over 400 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months.

CENTCOM said more than 140 ships had transited the strait in the past seven days, adding: “Traffic is flowing.”

Kuwait’s army said on Sunday that its explosives inspection and disposal team was handling shrapnel and explosive remnants in the Subhan area.

The General Staff said the operation would take place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time.

It said any explosion sounds heard during that period would be caused by the disposal of the remnants and explosives.