And in apparent confusion, the US president referred to that step as “the Trump Strait.”
Trump later said his comment was a “mistake,” but later added that with him “there are no accidents.”
The president reiterated his statements that Tehran is ready to reach an agreement despite the fact that his counterpart denies it; However, Pakistan confirmed to be the intermediary for the negotiations. The president said talks are underway to negotiate an end to the month-long conflict.
“We’re negotiating now, and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open” the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said at a Saudi-backed FII Priority investment forum in Miami.
“They have to open the Trump Strait. I mean, Hormuz. Excuse me, I’m very sorry. What a terrible mistake,” the Republican added.
He said the media would pounce on the comment, but then added: “There are no accidents with me, not too many.”
He also spoke of how he had ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the “Gulf of the United States” shortly after returning to power.
During a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Trump said it was “an option” to take control of Iran’s oil, as the United States did de facto with Venezuela, even though the war in the Middle East is still ongoing.
Earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern that Iran would seek to establish a permanent “tolling system” for ships in the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally transits.
Iranian forces “decimated”
President Trump insisted this Friday that Iran’s forces are being “decimated” within the framework of the surprise offensive by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory on February 28, and predicted a resurgence of the region outside of Iranian influence and “terror” and its “nuclear blackmail.”
“This is a moment of bold action and historic decision to make the United States and our allies safer and stronger, more prosperous and more successful than ever. That is what is happening. Tonight we are closer than ever to the emergence of a Middle East that is finally free of Iranian terror, aggression and nuclear blackmail,” said the New York magnate in a public appearance.
The tenant of the White House insisted that this “nuclear blackmail” to which the Tehran regime has subjected the region for almost half a century is coming to an end “under (his) leadership” and thanks to the ‘Epic Fury’ offensive, carried out together with Israel.
Iran, “the bully of the Middle East, but it is no longer”
“The United States is ending the threat posed by this radical regime, decimating Iran’s capabilities (…), something no one has ever seen (…). For 47 years Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East, but it is no longer,” he added.
These statements come after this Friday, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, stated that Tehran will facilitate and expedite the passage of humanitarian aid through the Strait of Hormuz, a decision he made following a request from the UN. Such a move, Bahraini said, “reflects Iran’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and ensuring that essential aid reaches those in need without delay.”
However, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, defended this Thursday in a telephone call with the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, the legitimacy of his country to prevent the passage of ships that it considers enemies through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic enclave that concentrates about a quarter of the world’s maritime oil trade and that is blocked by Tehran in retaliation for the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against the Islamic republic.
Houthi threat
Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened to join the war if attacks on Iran continue, if other countries join the US-Israeli offensive or if attacks are carried out from the Red Sea.
“We are prepared for direct military intervention,” declared the terrorist group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, in a video broadcast on X.
