Trump warns of ‘major’ attack on Iran over Houthis
US President Donald Trump has suggested using confiscated Iranian assets to pay for damage to ships, on the back of threatening “major military punishment” for both Iran and the rebel Houthi group in Yemen after the latter took action to disrupt oil shipping in the Red Sea.
The Iran-backed rebel group announced it would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi Arabian shipping as part of a maritime blockade.
President Donald Trump has issued new threats to Iran this morning. Alex Brandon
The strait has become a key shipping line for Saudi Arabia, especially for oil, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for several attacks in recent days that saw projectiles strike tankers.
Oil is now trading above $US100 ($143) a barrel for the first time since the US and Iran inked a now-defunct ceasefire agreement in June.
This morning, Trump said on Truth Social Iran money “controlled” by the US could be used to compensate for damage caused by attacks on shipping.
“Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls,” he wrote.
“These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do.”
Trump did not specify whether this would apply to attacks by the Houthis as well, but just hours earlier he said he held Iran responsible for their entry into the conflict.
Again on Truth Social overnight, Trump berated the Houthis for abandoning their “responsible” and “smart” non-interference in the conflict.
He said since a short US campaign against them in 2025, the Houthis had been quiet.
“Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. Truth Social
“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.”
Trump echoed this stance speaking to US media outlet Axios, saying he would make a decision soon on a “massive attack” against Iran, “one bigger than ever before”.
US Central Command in the Middle East has launched bombardments of Iran for the past 12 consecutive nights, with a 13th currently underway.
Lawmakers again demand end to war
The US House of Representatives voted to demand an end to the conflict in Iran without Congressional approval, a day after the same body voted to advance an expanded defence funding bill.
Several Republicans, including Trump critic Thomas Massie, sided with the Democrats to advance the resolution.
The US House voted for an end to the war without Congressional approval. CENTCOM/X
Under provisions in the War Powers Act, the US President is allowed to engage in military conflict for a maximum period of 90 days (with 30 of those days supposedly dedicated to a safe withdrawal of troops) before Congress is required to approve the war.
Congress need not explicitly vote against extending the conflict either – the absence of a vote serves as the absence of approval.
But the White House – like other administrations before it – has worked around the limit by claiming ceasefire periods reset the clock.
“I think that Americans of all backgrounds are sick of seeing the United States enter wars without justification, spending trillions of dollars in our engagements abroad,” Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told reporters ahead of the latest vote.
Like other such resolutions, it foundered in the Senate, which rejected passing it on to the White House.
Trump adds new condition to nuclear pact
Overnight, Trump appeared to address concerns in both the US and ally Israel over a nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia.
There were fears this could spark an “arms race” in the region.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”
The Abraham Accords, a signature foreign policy achievement of Trump’s first term, sought to normalise relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries in the region.
Trump meets with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the White House in 2025. AP
Since 2020, the Accords have grown to include initial signatories the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Morocco, Sudan, and Kazakhstan.
Between Trump’s two terms, US President Joe Biden also was open to a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, but insisted Riyadh normalise relations with Israel first.
There was no such mention of this requirement in initial revelations of Trump’s agreement, so it’s unclear how Saudi Arabia will react.
Riyadh has previously said it is open to dialogue on the condition of meaningful movement toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israel and Saudi Arabia were on the verge of historic agreements in 2023, before the October 7 Hamas attacks and the Gaza war that followed razed all progress.
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