President Trump said Monday that 34 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, as the U.S. moved to block ships from transiting the critical body of water from Iranian ports.
“34 Ships went through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, which is by far the highest number since this foolish closure began,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.
The strait, which normally sees roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil travel through it, has remained mostly closed throughout the war between the U.S. and Iran, which began in late February.
Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. would oversee a blockade of all Iranian ports.
Oil prices soared to more than $100 a barrel on Monday amid concerns and uncertainty over the blockade, which Trump confirmed to reporters had taken effect.
The development comes after talks between the U.S. and Iran failed in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend.
Vice President Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, told reporters in Pakistan that while the 21 hours of talks with Iranian officials were “substantive,” the two sides were unable to reach a peace agreement.
One of the red lines for the U.S. in negotiations was fully opening the Strait of Hormuz, and charging no tolls for transiting through it.
Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, posted Saturday on the social platform X that negotiations were “intensive.” He added that the two sides discussed the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, an end to and reparations for the war and the U.S. lifting sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.
Trump told reporters Monday that Iranian officials called U.S. representatives on Monday morning, hoping to make a deal.
“We’ve been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people and they want to work to do, they would like to work,” Trump said.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5829020-strait-hormuz-shipping-increase/
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