The blockade of the strait by Tehran since the start of the Iran war has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Donald Trump has been upset at NATO allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that Washington will have the Strait of Hormuz “open fairly soon” with or without Iran. However, he did not elaborate on his statement and acknowledged that it would not be an easy step.
“It won’t be easy. I would say this – we will have that open fairly soon,” Trump told reporters while boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump also suggested that other countries were offering help but did not identify any nation. “Other countries use the strait. So we do have other countries coming up, and they’ll help out,” Trump said.
Trump also said that the US won’t allow Iran to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that it is international waters. His response followed a Financial Times report that Tehran will impose a $1-per-barrel toll on oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Oman, which shares the critical strait’s control with Iran, denied any such plans.
The blockade of the strait by Tehran since the start of the Iran war has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. The strait is a chokepoint for about 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump has been upset at NATO allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. After meeting Trump on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told European governments that the US president seeks concrete commitments to secure the strait within days.
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and U.S. bases in Gulf states. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
The war has raised oil prices and shaken global markets. Washington announced a two-week ceasefire with Tehran on Tuesday, after having previously threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilisation. Ship traffic through the strait has remained stalled while Israel continues to bomb neighbouring Lebanon, which threatens to derail the fragile ceasefire.
