President Donald Trump in a surprising move announced a bold plan for the Strait of Hormuz which is at the centre of heightened tension between the United States and Iran.
According to Trump, the US would probably take over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and get paid for controlling the key shipping lane.
Speaking during the phone interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” program, Trump asserted, “We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll become the guardian of the strait. Maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that.”
“We’re going to guard it. We’re going to get paid for guarding it – a lot of money.”
“We’re going to be reimbursed, because the other nations are very wealthy. They’re on our side, and we can’t be expected to do that for nothing,” he said.
In a recent conflict between Tehran and Washington, the main thorny issue is that “who controls the Strait of Hormuz.” The waterway is significantly important as around 20 percent of global oil and energy supplies pass through it.
Earlier, both sides issued contradictory statements regarding Hormuz as Iran declared that “The Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice and will remain closed until the end of US interference in the region.”
And US CENTCOM stated, “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. It remains an international waterway. US forces are positioned and prepared to keep it that way.”
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated sharply as the IRGC warned that the ongoing US presence threatens to trigger further instability within the energy markets.
This statement follows a weekend of intense strikes, during which Iranian forces reportedly launched missile and drone strikes against US military installations across the Gulf and gulf countries. In response, the US also struck Iranian targets. These clashes have forced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, causing global oil prices to surge.
