US vows to 'knock the hell out of' Iran if Hormuz shipping attacked

Vice President JD Vance warned on Wednesday that the United States would resume military strikes against Iran if Tehran continues attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the Islamic Republic of violating a nascent agreement to keep the strategic waterway open. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vance said Washington had agreed to lift its naval blockade on the condition that Iran cease targeting vessels traversing the vital chokepoint.

'Punch back harder'

"The basic deal that we cut was we'll lift our blockade if you stop shooting at ships, but if you shoot at ships, we're going to punch back, and we're going to punch back harder than ever before," Vance said. He noted that Tehran resumed attacks on shipping approximately one week after the accord was reached. "If they shoot at ships, we're going to knock the hell out of them. It's that simple," he added, stating that President Donald Trump "maintains a lot of options" for responding.

Vance said Trump has made clear that the Strait of Hormuz "is going to be open," warning that "if they try to close it down, there's going to be a response from the American military." His remarks came hours after Trump declared that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end hostilities was "over," adding that the US will "probably" hit Iranian targets again Wednesday night.

Tehran accuses Washington of violations

Iran accused the US of violating the framework agreement, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stating the memorandum "was, from the very first step, based not on trust but on a clear mechanism of 'commitment in return for commitment.'" He said that despite Article Five of the accord entrusting Iran with determining arrangements for safe passage, "the US has challenged the provision and, through its unilateral actions as well as its aggressive attacks against Iran, has effectively violated the framework of the agreement." The US Central Command said it conducted strikes Tuesday night "in immediate response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz," according to Anadolu Agency.