Washington (GNP): United States President Donald Trump has said Washington holds “virtually total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, even as fresh attacks on commercial shipping in the waterway were reported this week.
Trump made the remark on Wednesday during a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the White House. He linked the claim to oil flows, saying more crude had left the strait in the previous three days than at any point in its history.
The president then turned to Iran, saying “things will happen very soon” there. He described the Iranian economy as weak and hit by high inflation, and repeated his claim that its military had been “totally wiped out”.
Trump added that the war would be won quickly, “one way or the other”. His comments come as the strait sits at the centre of the Middle East war between Iran and the United States.
The picture at sea looked different on the same day. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said unknown projectiles had struck three ships in the strait on the previous day.
According to UKMTO, the vessels were a crude oil tanker, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker and a third ship. The centre issued the report as warning 146.
The strait matters because around a fifth of the world’s oil and LNG moved through it before the war began. Since the conflict broke out, Tehran has blocked the passage of commercial ships and fired on vessels.
Also Read: Trump Says Iran War Will End Very Soon as Hormuz Talks Continue
Washington has answered with a counterblockade of Iranian ports, aimed at stopping Tehran from exporting its oil. The two blockades have kept the waterway under pressure and energy markets on edge.
That pressure is visible in prices. Oil was on track for a big monthly gain as US and Iran talks to end the war stall, while tight fuel markets continue to support prices despite recovering Middle East crude supplies.
The November Brent futures contract rose 57 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $103.16 a barrel at 0944 GMT (2:44pm PKT). The more active December contract gained 94 cents to $97.10, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 82 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $90.20.
Trump said, “We have virtually total control of the Hormuz Strait.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
