Stephen Miller says Strait of Hormuz turmoil shows why Trump had to act: ‘Imagine if Iran had nukes’

Stephen Miller described the conflict as a 'now-or-never' moment for the United States to confront Tehran’s leadership
PUBLISHED MAR 13, 2026
Stephen Miller argued that rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate why President Donald Trump ordered a military campaign against Iran (Getty Images)
Stephen Miller argued that rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate why President Donald Trump ordered a military campaign against Iran (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Stephen Miller says the chaos in the world’s most nerve-wracking oil chokepoint in the Strait of Hormuz proves why President Trump had to eviscerate Iran's regime.

Appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime, White House adviser Miller argued that the flare-up gripping the region shows exactly why Trump ordered a full-fledged military campaign against Iran.

The waterway is a narrow shipping corridor that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil. Attacks on tankers transiting the region have sent prices surging and rattled global markets. 

Stephen Miller paints dire scenario

During the interview, Miller said the ongoing US operation against Iran was a now-or-never moment.

"This was the last chance that the United States had to take action against a regime that was planning and plotting to kill Americans and that had the ability to strangle, if it wished, global commerce in the future, backed by long-range missiles, backed by nuclear weapons!" he insisted.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller talks to reporters outside the West Wing on March 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Miller repeated the Trump Administration's position that the
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller talks to reporters outside the West Wing on March 19, 2025 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He urged viewers to picture a more dangerous scenario. "Imagine if this regime, that right now, weaker than ever before, imagine if that regime instead had nuclear weapons, instead had long-range missiles that could reach an American city, instead was rich with cash."

Miller also aimed at the Obama administration, claiming its policies paved the way for Tehran’s ambitions. "Remember, Obama put them on a path to enrich them with tens of billions of dollars and have a nuclear weapon right now," he alleged.



The adviser warned that a wealthy, nuclear-armed Iran sitting astride the world’s most important energy corridor would only spell trouble for the global economy. "A rich regime that controls commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and has nuclear weapons, has long-range weapons, think about what a terror that would be to global commerce and to the world."

Instead, he said what the world is seeing now is a weakened government lashing out. "So what instead you have is a dying regime, a decaying regime, a thrashing regime that is engaged in te**orism in the Strait of Hormuz."

Stephen Miller says the US can outlast oil shock

The comments came just a day after Iran struck at least two oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic shipping lane between Iran and Oman carries about 20 million barrels of oil a day.

Iranian threats and attacks have effectively choked traffic through the corridor, sending energy prices higher and forcing shipping companies to steer clear of the zone.

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Miller argued the US has the upper hand in any economic standoff.

"But let's be very clear, the United States, not Iran, has the staying power," he insisted. "Why? Iran produces 2% of the world's oil. America under President Trump is the number one producer of oil and fossil fuel, more than Saudi Arabia, more than Russia, more than any other nation in the world, and now we're partnering with Venezuela."

Claim of 'annihilation' in Trump’s Iran campaign

Miller also insisted the US military's 'Operation Epic Fury' dealt devastating blows to Iran’s armed forces.

“I think it’s important for your viewers, Jesse, and the American people to know that there’s never, in history, been a more total asymmetric, one-sided annihilation of the enemy than you are witnessing and is unfolding right now in Iran,” he said.

A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a U.S.-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 8, 2026 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

According to him, American strikes have gutted Tehran’s ability to wage war.

“Iran has long been feared by all the nations of the Middle East. It’s long been believed to be one of the great military powers of the region, and yet the united States, under President Trump’s leadership, has annihilated their Navy, has annihilated their missile capabilities, has dealt devastating strikes to the IRGC and their command structure, has taken out, in collaboration and coordination with Israel, their nation’s sinister leadership and command structure,” said Miller. “It has been a complete wipeout of their capacity to unleash violence on the world.”

Despite those claims, US intelligence agencies reportedly believe Iran’s government remains in control of the country, according to officials who spoke to Reuters.

The conflict has already taken a deadly toll. Earlier this month, Iran launched a drone strike on American forces that killed seven US soldiers and left thirty more hospitalized, according to reports from CBS.

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

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