Washington, April 7 : The strategic Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central flashpoint in the escalating U.S.-Iran standoff, with President Donald Trump calling it â??a very big priorityâ?? even as he warned Tehran of severe consequences if negotiations fail.â??

Addressing a crowded White House press conference, Trump underscored the vulnerability of the narrow oil chokepoint, saying it could be disrupted with minimal effort. â??To close the strait, all you need is one terrorist that somehow has a truck loaded withâ?¦ a water mine. Drop them in the water,â?? he said.â??

He added that even the perception of mines could halt global shipping. â??You can do that even just by saying we put mines in the water,â?? Trump said, noting the risks for vessels worth billions of dollars.

â??The remarks came amid heightened tensions following U.S. military operations inside Iran and ongoing negotiations with Tehran. Trump said Washingtonâ??s objective includes ensuring uninterrupted energy flows. â??Part of that deal is going to be we want free traffic of oil and everything else,â?? he said.â??

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil passes, has long been a geopolitical pressure point. Trump suggested that while the U.S. has degraded Iranâ??s conventional military capabilities, asymmetric threats to the strait remain a concern.â??

â??Weâ??ve knocked out their navyâ?¦ knocked out their Air Force completely,â?? he said, adding that Iranâ??s ability to deploy mines or disrupt shipping still poses a challenge. â??They could drop themâ?¦ Iâ??m not even sure they have any minesâ?¦ but theyâ??re very goodâ?¦ negotiators,â?? he said.â??

Trump also floated an unconventional idea: imposing tolls on maritime traffic. â??We have a concept where weâ??ll charge tollsâ?¦ why shouldnâ??t we? Weâ??re the winner,â?? he said, framing it as a potential post-conflict arrangement.â??

At the same time, he indicated that diplomacy remains active but uncertain. â??They have till tomorrow, 8:00 eastern timeâ?¦ we think negotiating in good faith,â?? he said, while warning of severe military action if talks collapse.â??

â??We can knock them out for a loop,â?? Trump said, adding that infrastructure targets remain an option. â??Very little is off limits,â?? he said, though he also noted, â??I hope I donâ??t have to do it.â??â??

The President acknowledged the broader global stakes, saying multiple countries are engaged in efforts to resolve the crisis. â??A lot of people are affected by this,â?? he said.

/IANS