On June 22, during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation," Graham stated, "If this agreement fails, President Trump will seize the Strait of Hormuz by force."
He added, "The U.S. will control the Strait of Hormuz and impose fees on vessels to cover operational costs. If Iran resists U.S. control, we will completely destroy them."
Graham's comments came as the U.S. and Iran engaged in follow-up negotiations regarding a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance, with Qatar and Pakistan participating as mediators. Following the talks, Vance reported progress in the negotiations.
Previously, the U.S. and Iran signed an MOU aimed at lifting U.S. maritime sanctions and halting Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides are continuing discussions for a permanent ceasefire agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route, accounting for up to one-fifth of global oil shipments during normal times. However, commercial shipping traffic has significantly decreased since the outbreak of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, contributing to instability in the international energy market.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright appeared on ABC's "This Week" and stated that more than 112 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz to date. He noted, "The volume of oil products has nearly returned to pre-war levels."
However, there are concerns that full normalization of the strait will require the removal of mines. Wright explained, "Iran has laid mines along the normal shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, so removal operations are necessary."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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