Trump warns Iran of takeover if Strait of Hormuz closed during Swiss negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iranian officials that any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz could result in the loss of Iran’s territory. In a phone call reported by Fox News, he said, > "you close [the strait] and you won’t have a country," and added that the United States would "take over the rest of the country." The remarks came as Iranian negotiators walked out of the first day of high-level talks in Switzerland, citing the president’s statements as a provocation.

Despite the tension, the Swiss talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, continued with both sides working on mechanisms to keep the strait open and to establish a cease-fire in southern Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised the mediators for “major progress,” while U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that President Trump had asked the United States to "turn over a new leaf" in its relationship with Iran.

The negotiations aim to finalize a memorandum of understanding that would end hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran-backed Hezbollah within 60 days. A joint statement from the mediators described the atmosphere as “positive and constructive,” noting the creation of a communication line to prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. officials declined to comment on the president’s remarks, and Iran’s military denied that it had closed the strait, contradicting statements from Iranian state media.