Trump Iran retaliation threat follows Houthi strike on Saudi tankers

President Donald Trump’s Iran retaliation threat landed after Houthi rebels struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, according to a TODAY report aired July 24, 2026.

TODAY reported that Trump said he was considering a “massive attack” against Iran in response to the tanker strikes. NBC’s Richard Engel reported on the developments, and Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joined TODAY with political analysis.

The Red Sea attack has already rippled through energy markets. According to TODAY, international oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since May after the two Saudi tankers were hit.

Why did Trump threaten Iran?

Trump linked his warning to the Houthi strike on the Saudi oil tankers, TODAY reported. The Houthis are described in the report as rebels, and the attack took place in the Red Sea.

The president’s response raised the stakes around an already volatile security situation. TODAY’s report said Trump was vowing retaliation against Iran and weighing the possibility of a “massive attack,” though no further details of a specific military plan were reported.

The oil-price jump adds a second front to the story: the global cost of crude. TODAY reported that the attack pushed international oil prices past the $100-a-barrel mark, a threshold not reached since May.

The report did not state the extent of damage to the Saudi tankers, whether there were injuries, or what form any U.S. retaliation might take.

What happens next?

For now, the concrete developments are Trump’s public vow of retaliation, the reported Houthi strike on two Saudi oil tankers, and the oil market reaction described by TODAY.

Welker’s appearance on TODAY was billed as political analysis of the moment, while Engel reported on the Iran and Red Sea developments. No additional official response from Iran or the Houthis was included in the report.

This story draws on original reporting from TODAY.com.