10 oil tankers given approval to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump spoke on Thursday about Iran’s secret “present” to the US during the first Cabinet meeting since the war began in the Middle East, which he mentioned two days ago was the passage of 10 oil-carrying ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
Trump said Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “gift” to show it is serious about talks to end the conflict, which has entered its 27th day. He said Washington was holding “critical” talks with Tehran as the conflict continues.
Trump said during his discussions with Iran, “He said, ‘to show you the fact that we are real and solid and we are there, we are going to give you eight boatloads of oil.'”
Trump had previously suggested the goodwill gesture would help diplomatic efforts to end the war in West Asia.
The US president said, “I didn’t think much about it, and then I saw the news, and they said, ‘There are eight boats going right down the middle of the Strait of Hormuz.'” He added that Iranian negotiators “apologised” for what they said and the Islamic nation allowed two more boats.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump said Iran had “given us a gift” and that it was “a huge gift worth an extraordinary amount of money.”. He stated at the time that the “current” mystery pertained to oil and gas, but he refrained from revealing it.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil and gas prices soaring as about 20% of global oil passes through the key shipping lane.
When reporters at the White House asked Trump whether Iran should be able to charge tolls for ships transiting the strait, he said, “They shouldn’t be able to do that, but they’re doing that a little bit.”
