The Strait of Hormuz is back in the spotlight: Trump comments on Iran’s actions
11 April 07:44
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened “fairly quickly” and that this will happen regardless of whether Iran cooperates. He made this statement during a press briefing at Andrews Air Force Base, emphasizing that the United States is ready to ensure the resumption of shipping “one way or another,” reports "Komersant Ukrainian", citing CNN.
What Trump said about the Strait of Hormuz
According to Trump, Iran has suffered a military defeat, and therefore the United States will open the Strait of Hormuz “with or without them.” The U.S. president stressed that he expects a swift resolution to the issue and made it clear: if this does not happen through diplomatic means, Washington will see it through to the end regardless.
Trump also specifically stressed that he would not allow Iran to charge fees for ships passing through the strait if Tehran attempts to do so. According to him, the U.S. does not recognize Iran’s right to impose such conditions on international shipping.
Why the Strait of Hormuz is so important
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the key routes for the global energy sector. About one-fifth of the world’s maritime shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas pass through it, so any disruptions in shipping immediately affect global energy markets. Reuters directly calls a blockade of the strait the greatest disruption to global energy supplies in history.
What is the U.S.’s top priority in negotiations with Iran
Despite his tough statements about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump made it clear that the main issue for the U.S. in the upcoming deal with Iran is not shipping, but the nuclear issue. He explicitly stated that “no nuclear weapons” constitutes “99% of the deal.” Trump specifically cited limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities as Washington’s top priority.
When journalists asked him whether the Strait of Hormuz would also be part of the deal, Trump answered in the affirmative but noted that this issue, in his opinion, “will be resolved automatically.”
What is known about the negotiations with Iran
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are set to take place in Pakistan. The American delegation is led by Vice President J.D. Vance, who has already departed for the meeting with the Iranian side. He stated that he had received “fairly clear instructions” from Trump and warned Iran not to try to “play games” with the United States.
Reuters notes that expectations for these talks remain modest. There is skepticism in Washington regarding a quick breakthrough, particularly regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, where the parties have differing demands and visions for a future agreement.
Why Trump’s statement drew particular attention
Trump’s remarks that the Strait of Hormuz would open “automatically” sent an important signal to markets and the international community. Essentially, he made it clear that the U.S. has no intention of leaving this issue to Iran’s discretion and is prepared to vigorously defend freedom of navigation. At the same time, Trump showed that he considers the issue of the strait important, but subordinate to the main goal—preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
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