WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday that the US could “easily” take the Strait of Hormuz and “make a fortune” if it assumed control over oil exports from the Persian Gulf.
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“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD??? President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he posted on Truth Social.
The president earlier this week had called on US allies such as the UK to “step up” in helping to reopen the strait, through which at least one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil passes every year.
“The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage,” Trump said. “We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.”
“I have a suggestion. Number one, buy oil from the United States of America. We have plenty. We have so much. And number two, build up some delayed courage … go to the strait and just take it.”
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The international community appeared to at least initially bristle at the notion.
“This is not our war,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday. “We will not be drawn into the conflict.”
Then a day later, Britain and a coalition of more than 40 countries began discussiing diplomatic ways to reopen the strait, which UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said showed “the strength of our international determination.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” Cooper said, citing “unsustainable” spikes in oil and food prices “hitting households and businesses in every corner of the world.”
Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships have ground nearly all traffic in the channel to a halt, causing oil prices to surge as much as 50% globally.
French officials have floated the idea to have escort ships for oil and gas tankers leaving the gulf as the conflict de-escalates.
Trump had earlier renewed threats to pull the US out of NATO — while also warning Iran that he would commence bombing it “back to the Stone Ages” if the strait is kept closed.
The president has also weighed a military operation to seize Kharg Island in the strait, a key hub of Iran’s oil exports.
The Trump administration assumed control of Venezuela’s oil exports after successfully capturing and extraditing its dictator Nicolas Maduro to the US to face charges in January.
US officials confirmed later that month that it was buying barrels of oil from the nation at market price and then selling them at a 30% markup, with the first sale priced at $500 million.
