Trump to Iran: "We will hit hard." To the blocked ships: "Pull your balls out." And about Putin: "He helps Tehran."

Donald Trump made a series of statements about Iran in an interview with Fox News that aired on Sunday, the most explosive content of which only emerged today, fueling a heated debate in the United States over the management of the ongoing conflict with Tehran.

The scenario: the Strait of Hormuz as a new frontline

The conflict between the United States and Iran — which escalated sharply about two weeks ago with the start of American military operations against Iranian targets — has quickly turned the Strait of Hormuz into one of the hottest spots on the planet. The strategic passage, just 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point and traversed by about one-fifth of all the oil transported by sea in the world, has become the scene of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. Several merchant vessels have been hit in recent weeks, and many others have chosen to wait outside the Strait, hoping for the situation to clarify — a choice that Trump did not appreciate.

"Pull out your balls"

The American president used barracks-style language to address the issue: merchant ships waiting near the Strait of Hormuz should, according to him, "pull out their balls and cross it." The words, spoken in the Sunday interview, sparked immediate critical reactions from the Democratic opposition, which accused Trump of dangerously downplaying the real risks faced by civilian vessels in an active war zone. For Democrats, the phrase is emblematic of an approach to the crisis that underestimates the complexity of the conflict and endangers lives and international trade.

The president's rough tone has irritated not only Democrats but also parts of the energy industry and the maritime community, who view security through an eminently technical lens: defended corridors, naval escorts, mine-sweeping operations, clear rules of engagement, and — above all — availability of insurance coverage. Without the latter, "the courage" evoked in the conference does not even move a ballast:

"We will strike them very hard next week"

On the military front, Trump announced an imminent escalation. "We will strike them very hard over the next week," he stated, referring to Iran, about two weeks after the start of operations. A promise that comes at a time when military tensions are already extremely high and the international community watches with growing concern the evolution of the situation in the Persian Gulf region.

However, the president also left the door open for a quick resolution, stating that the conflict could end "soon" — while specifying, with a rather cryptic formula, that he would determine the end of hostilities "when I feel it in my gut." An indication that has not helped to reassure allies and markets.

The role of Russia and the global chess game

In the interview, Trump also touched on the topic of Russian involvement. According to the American president, Vladimir Putin is helping Iran "a little bit" in the conflict. The explanation Trump offers is almost straight out of a Cold War manual: "He probably thinks we are helping Ukraine," he said, implying that Russian support for Tehran would be a form of retaliation mirroring American support for Kiev. A reasoning that reveals how contemporary geopolitical crises are now intertwined in a single large confrontation between powers.

The fate of the Iranian regime

Finally, Trump expressed his views on the political stability of the Islamic Republic, predicting that the regime "will fall, but perhaps not immediately." He acknowledged that the path to internal change is far from simple: "When they go around with machine guns and shoot down protesters — when they say 'we will take everyone who protests off the streets' — I think that is a huge obstacle for people who have no weapons." A fall of power by the Iranian people, he added, will happen "probably," but the timing remains uncertain.

Trump's statements come at a time when the global economy anxiously watches the Strait of Hormuz: oil prices are already under pressure, and any new disruption of commercial traffic in the area risks having repercussions far beyond the theater of war.