Iran: As Long As You Respect Us, I don’t Want To Say Fear; We’re Not Going To Have Any Trouble”Trump

According to a video posted on Fox News, on Tuesday June 23, 2026, President Donald Trump declared that the United States maintained total control of the Strait of Hormuz and issued a pointed warning that any loss of respect from Iran toward the United States would carry serious consequences, as reporters pressed him on the mechanisms in place to prevent further escalation in the region.

Trump made the statement during a press exchange at the White House where he was signing two executive orders on quantum computing.

Questions about Iran and the strategic situation in the Middle East repeatedly interrupted what had been planned as a technology-focused event.

A reporter referenced comments made by Vice President JD Vance about mechanisms in place to manage escalation between the United States, Iran, Israel, and Lebanon.

Trump responded by pointing to American military dominance in the region and the effectiveness of the naval blockade previously imposed around Iran.

In his words, Trump said, “As long as they respect us, I don’t want to use the word fear because that’s an inappropriate word, but as long as they respect us, we’re not going to have any trouble.

We have total control of the strait. We have a navy that had a blockade. I think the blockade was more impactful than dropping bombs, if you want to know the truth. It was like, they call it the steel wall. Nobody got through.

“Not one ship got through able to go to Iran. And we could set that up again in about 15 minutes. I would say, Pete, one phone call. How long would it take? Maybe half hour,” he said.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, seated nearby, confirmed the timeline, saying the blockade could be reinstated immediately if required. Trump added that 47 years of prior presidents had failed to take the actions he had taken and that the current position of strength was a direct result of his administration’s decisions.