A tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, causing a fire that was extinguished, as President Trump said he is poised to make a “big decision” on whether to launch a major assault to “annihilate” the Iranian regime. The attack comes amid rising tension between the two countries, with Iran staging mass rallies and Trump warning of war.
The attack was reported by the U.K. maritime trade operations center (UKMTO). Another tanker was reportedly struck on Wednesday, September 16.
The Attack in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck a Togo-flagged ship making an “illegal crossing” of the strait. The UKMTO reported the attacks separately, noting the first tanker was hit by the unknown projectile.
The attacks have drawn attention to shipping through one of the world’s busiest waterways.
Trump’s War Words
Trump told Axios he is ready to make a “big decision” on whether to launch a major assault to “annihilate” the Iranian regime. He said the decision was serious: “It’s a big decision,” Mr. Trump said. “Anything could happen with me.”
His comments come as Iran has staged large public displays of support. Thousands of Iranians rallied in a government-choreographed display of unity on Friday, with estimates of up to 300,000 people taking to the streets.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh told IRNA that more than 600,000 people had registered to participate, with over 1 million expected to eventually take part in the training. Participants trampled flags of the U.S. and Israel, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Sanctions and the U.N. Vote
The U.S. had drafted a U.N. resolution to extend the mandate of U.N. experts monitoring sanctions reimposed against Iran over its nuclear program. The resolution failed.
Russia and China vetoed the measure, voting 11-2. Somalia and Pakistan abstained. The resolution would have kept the U.N. expert panel in place for a year.
The sanctions were reimposed using a provision in the 2015 nuclear deal. They took effect on September 27, 2025, restoring the sanctions committee and authorizing a panel of U.N. experts to monitor implementation.
The sanctions freeze Iran’s assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran and penalize any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
What Happens Next
Trump has said the decision is big. He has not said what it is.
The attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have been reported by UKMTO and by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, each framing the other as the aggressor.
The situation remains fluid.
“It’s a big decision,” Mr. Trump said. “Anything could happen with me.”
That is the full extent of what the president has said publicly about his plans.
The Paper’s View
Clay Tribune opposes war and believes it should be avoided whenever possible. The attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are a matter of concern, but they do not change the principle that conflict should be a last resort, not a first step.
The rally in Iran shows the regime is capable of mobilizing its population. The U.N. vote shows Iran’s allies are willing to oppose Western resolutions.
The honest reaction is unease. The paper’s principles favor avoiding war, and the facts of this story show two sides moving closer together rather than apart.
The attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are a warning. They are also a reminder that the waterway remains a flashpoint for global trade and regional stability.
For now, the attacks stand as a signal. The decision Trump has promised to make will determine whether that signal becomes a conflict.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs diplomacy and negotiation over retaliation, and is against any move toward a wider war. Trump’s words about “annihilating” the Iranian regime are alarming precisely because they are words, not actions. But words alone do not start wars; decisions do. And the president has not yet made one.
The attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are a matter of concern, but they do not change the principle that conflict should be avoided whenever possible. The rally in Iran shows the regime is capable of mobilizing its population; the U.N. vote shows Iran’s allies are willing to oppose Western resolutions. Neither changes the calculus that war is a last resort, not a first step.
The situation remains fluid. The attacks have been reported by UKMTO and by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, each framing the other as the aggressor. The paper’s position holds: keep the channels open for trade, diplomacy and compromise. Avoid concentrations of power, in government or in business. That means watching the decision Trump has promised to make, and watching how both sides respond to it.
See the video the story is built around at CBS News.
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