Senator Lindsey Graham told The Zioneer that if the US-Iran deal fails, President Trump would forcibly seize control of the Strait of Hormuz, levy tolls on shipping to fund the operation, expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia in 2026, and — if Iran resists — destroy it, according to the senator's remarks.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told The Zioneer that President Trump plans to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia in 2026 — a new detail added to a scenario Graham described based on a conversation he says he had with Trump on Friday. Graham said Trump would, if the US-Iran deal fails, forcibly seize the Strait of Hormuz, levy tolls on shipping, and — if Iran resists — destroy it. The new element of Saudi accession to the Accords by 2026 was not part of earlier iterations of Graham's account.
The Zioneer has tracked a rapid escalation of Trump's rhetoric on the Strait of Hormuz since Sunday, June 14. At 16:20 Jerusalem that day, Trump told Fox News the US "may need to seize" the strait, calling America the "guardian angel" of the Middle East. Within hours, in the same interview, the threat sharpened: Trump said the US would "blow them up" if Iran closes the waterway. By later that day, a single report added the demand for a 20% cut of oil passing through as a transit fee. The following day, the US completed a second consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, as The Zioneer reported on June 11. Diplomatic efforts continued: by June 17, an electronic signing of a memorandum of understanding was reportedly near, though Israel rejected a clause mandating IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as The Zioneer reported at 19:32 Jerusalem that day.
The broader context, as The Zioneer reported on June 17, includes Trump's warning that without a deal, US military action could shut the strait for an extended period. Iran separately threatened closure on June 20, while the Pentagon reported normal traffic. Graham's scenario is the most detailed private account yet of Trump's apparent intentions.
The senator's remarks remain a single-source account of a private conversation. The White House has not confirmed Graham's characterization of Trump's posture, and no official US policy change has been announced.
8 developments
- DevelopingSenator Graham: Stop restraining Israel, US should use military force if Iran does not sign deal immediately
- StrongTrump warns he may impose Strait of Hormuz tolls if no Iran deal in 60 days
- DevelopingTrump: Without a deal, US military actions could shut Hormuz for extended period
- StrongSenator Graham says Trump has a new policy: US will respond in Iran if Hezbollah attacks Israel
Source and signal
- Internal intake