WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that the US will have the Strait of Hormuz “open fairly soon” but did not elaborate and acknowledged that it will not be an easy step.
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.
“It won’t be easy … I would say this — we will have that open fairly soon,” Trump added. 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 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump has been upset at NATO allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported on Thursday that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, after meeting Trump, told European governments that the US president wants concrete commitments to help secure the strait within days.
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and US bases in Gulf states. US-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.
Trump announced a fragile ceasefire with Tehran on Tuesday, after having previously threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilization. Ship traffic through the strait has remained stalled.
UK to hold Strait of Hormuz meeting next week
Britain will convene another planning meeting next week of countries aiming to restore free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, AP reported.
A British official with knowledge of the planning said the meeting will involve senior officials and will stress opposition to the idea of tolls being charged for passage through the waterway.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss government plans.
The meeting follows an April 2 foreign ministers’ call involving about 40 countries, and a military planning meeting this week attended by about 30 nations.
The talks have discussed using diplomatic and economic pressure, such as sanctions, on Iran to reopen the key oil route, as well as military plans for ensure ships’ safety once the conflict ends.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said it’s essential to have a “viable plan” to reopen the strait and get the global economy moving again.
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