As Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels declared a blockade of the Red Sea, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to respond, saying, "If that happens, we will take care of it."
On the 21st (local time), during talks at the White House with Lebanon President Joseph Aoun, President Trump was asked by reporters about the possibility of a Houthi blockade of the Red Sea and said, "We'll have to see what happens. So far that has not occurred."
As U.S.-Iran military clashes continue over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthi rebels declared they would block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, targeting Saudi Arabia, a pro-U.S. oil producer.
From March to May last year, under President Trump's orders, U.S. forces launched a large-scale attack targeting the Houthis, who had attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Trump also signaled he would soon strike the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain," believed to house Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
Trump said, "We are going to hit that area very hard pretty soon."
Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility. It is known to contain fortified underground nuclear facilities.
Trump emphasized, "If there is any place where they are even thinking a little about nuclear matters, wherever it is, we will strike very, very hard."
Asked whether Iran had moved nuclear centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, he said, "Maybe they did," but added, "If there's no nuclear material, that means nothing."
Pete Hegseth, the Minister of the Ministry of National Defense who attended the talks that day, cited North Korea's example and stressed the need to block Iran's development of nuclear weapons.
Minister Hegseth said, "For 47 years they (Iran) have built up conventional military power, just like North Korea," adding, "Remember that is exactly how North Korea developed the bomb (a nuclear bomb)."
Trump also said, "Iran desperately wants to meet (with the United States)," adding, "We are not interested until they are ready to meet in a meaningful way."
He also said it would take 20 to 25 years to rebuild Iran even if U.S. forces withdrew right now.
He added, "But we are not withdrawing right now, and we have dealt a big blow to Iran," saying, "I don't think they will ever rebuild. Frankly, they haven't seen anything yet. We have been quite generous so far."
On the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran, he said the blockade was airtight, adding, "No one can break the blockade line. It's like a steel wall."
Trump also expressed willingness to support Lebanon that day.
Trump said, "Lebanon has long been treated very unfairly," adding, "We will make sure this country is treated properly with the respect it deserves."