US military to remain around Iran; Trump threatens ‘shootin’ starts’ if Strait of Hormuz closed

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that American military forces would remain deployed in and around Iran and threatened a massive escalation if an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program and Strait of Hormuz opening is not upheld.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said all US ships, aircraft and military personnel, along with additional weaponry, would “remain in place” until what he called a “REAL AGREEMENT” is fully complied with.

“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote.

“It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli strikes hit busy commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, Lebanese authorities said, killing at least 182 people and wounding hundreds in the deadliest day of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

The strikes came shortly after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran, briefly raising hopes of a de-escalation across the region.

Israel’s military said it carried out its largest coordinated assault of the current conflict, hitting more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Iran said later it was again halting the movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, according to state-run media, raising concerns about global energy supplies.

Trump told PBS NewsHour that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal because of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, describing Israel’s latest attacks as “a separate skirmish.”

Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its war with Hezbollah, although Iran and mediator Pakistan have indicated otherwise.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said violations of the ceasefire had been reported and urged restraint.

“Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process,” Sharif said in a post on X. “I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks … so that diplomacy can take a lead role.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Israeli strikes, saying he was “deeply alarmed” by the mounting civilian toll and warning the attacks posed “a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.”

He called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities.