We're not f***ing around: US vows prolonged attack if Iran targets ship in Hormuz

The White House is preparing for a potentially prolonged military campaign as tensions with Iran escalate over attacks on commercial ships transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

In Short

• Washington says military action may last days or even several weeks
• US launched fresh strikes after Iran targeted ships and regional bases
• Trump claimed Iran wanted talks but doubted it would honour any deal

The White House is preparing for the possibility of a prolonged military confrontation with Iran after fresh attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with US officials warning that the duration of the campaign will depend on Tehran's next moves.

The latest escalation marks a significant shift in the conflict. What initially began as an effort to degrade Iran's missile capabilities and target its remaining nuclear infrastructure has now expanded into a broader confrontation centred on securing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy transit routes.

A US official told Axios that Washington is bracing for a campaign that could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. One senior official said the military response would continue as long as Iran persisted with attacks on commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway.

"We're going to slap them a bit so they understand we're not f***ing around," the official said, indicating that the administration intends to maintain military pressure until Iran changes its course.

The renewed military action came after diplomatic efforts appeared to collapse. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the 60-day ceasefire envisioned under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) was effectively 'over' following Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.

The United States subsequently carried out a second wave of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, including attacks on infrastructure inside Iran, marking the first such strikes on Iranian infrastructure in months. Iran responded by launching attacks on US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain while reiterating that it would not relinquish what it describes as its authority over the strait.

Despite the military escalation, Trump later suggested that a diplomatic breakthrough remained possible. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he claimed Iranian officials had reached out and expressed a willingness to negotiate.

"They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal," Trump said.

However, the President later questioned Tehran's intentions, saying he was unconvinced Iran would honour any future agreement.

"I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal. They're sort of crazy, to be honest," he said.

The reported outreach from Iran has not been independently confirmed. Iranian officials have not acknowledged any direct communication with Washington.

People familiar with internal White House discussions told Axios that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed Trump on fresh Iranian attacks targeting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

They reportedly informed the President that Iran had fired anti-ship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones at vessels using the southern shipping lane, with three commercial ships, including a liquefied natural gas tanker, struck within a matter of hours.

The briefings reportedly convinced Trump that Iran was not genuinely pursuing a final settlement, prompting the administration to proceed with additional military action.

For the Trump administration, ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has become a central objective, both to protect international shipping and to prevent disruption to global energy markets.

Iran, however, has made control over the strategic passage a core element of its negotiating position.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator, accused Washington of violating previous commitments and warned that the strait would only function under conditions set by Tehran.

"If you strike, you'll get hit. The Strait of Hormuz will only open with Iranian arrangements, not American threats," Ghalibaf wrote on X.

The dispute has also exposed growing differences over the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. The agreement required Iran to permit safe commercial navigation through the strait. Iranian officials later alleged that Washington breached the arrangement by directing ships through a southern route near the Omani coast without Tehran's approval, further eroding trust between the two sides.

US officials maintain that the administration believes it has greater flexibility to intensify military operations because commercial traffic has continued to move through the waterway in recent weeks. Hundreds of oil tankers have successfully exited the Gulf, easing concerns that renewed fighting would immediately trigger a sharp spike in global oil prices.

Another US official told Axios that the latest escalation also reflected growing frustration among hardline factions within Iran's divided leadership, who believe the memorandum has failed to deliver meaningful economic benefits.

According to the official, Tehran saw its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz diminishing as commercial vessels increasingly used the southern shipping route. Although Washington had offered sanctions waivers, Iran continued to struggle with oil exports because banks remained reluctant to process transactions and many countries were unwilling to rely on temporary exemptions.

The official also claimed that no frozen Iranian assets have been released because Tehran has yet to complete the nuclear-related commitments required under the agreement. In addition, a separate US-brokered framework between Israel and Lebanon rendered portions of the broader memorandum redundant, further fuelling dissatisfaction within sections of the Iranian leadership.

"Part of the Iranian leadership was not happy about all of those things," the official said.

"They started shooting and we decided it's time to slap them back hard. It's a process. We have patience. If we don't feel we're getting the deal we want, we are not going to do it," he added.

Vice President JD Vance said the US position remains unchanged: the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to international shipping.

"If they try to close it down, there's going to be a response from the American military. They can either follow it, or they can have exactly what happened to them last night. It's just going to keep on happening until they open up that lane and stop shooting at ships," Vance added.

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