Trump Says US in Talks With Seven Countries to Secure Strait of Hormuz
International Cooperation to Protect Key Oil Route
ISTANBUL — US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington is holding discussions with seven countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while discussing Operation Epic Fury, Trump explained that the United States began talks with several nations about jointly monitoring and protecting the strategic waterway.
He added that Washington also invited China to participate in the effort. According to Trump, China transports nearly 90% of its maritime crude oil shipments through the strait, making the route vital for its energy supplies.
“They get most of their oil through that passage,” Trump said. “So I asked whether they would like to take part. We will see what they decide.”
Trump Questions Viral Video of Iranian Leader
Meanwhile, Trump dismissed a widely shared video on social media that appeared to show about 250,000 people gathered in a square cheering for Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump claimed the footage was created using artificial intelligence and did not represent a real event.
“That video was completely AI-generated,” he said. “The gathering never happened, yet some media outlets treated it as real.”
Impact of Strait Closure on Global Markets
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical maritime chokepoint located between Iran to the north and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula to the south. A large portion of the world’s oil and gas shipments passes through the narrow waterway each day.
Iran effectively shut down the route in early March after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against the country on Feb. 28. The attacks killed about 1,300 people, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As a result, shipping disruptions in the strait have pushed global oil and fertilizer prices higher, raising concerns about energy supply and food costs worldwide.
Possible US Naval Escorts for Tankers
Trump also said the United States could soon begin providing naval escorts for oil tankers traveling through the strait.
Earlier, he urged countries that rely heavily on the route for energy supplies to play a greater role in protecting the strategic passage, while noting that the United States stands ready to support such efforts.
The president also predicted that oil prices would decline once the conflict ends, adding that he expects the war to conclude relatively quickly.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE