US President Donald Trump on Thursday said Iran permitted 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “gift” to show it was serious about negotiations to end the ongoing conflict.
Referring
to his earlier remarks about a “gift” from Tehran, Trump said the move was intended to signal intent amid quiet diplomatic efforts. He noted that eight large oil tankers were allowed to pass through the crucial waterway earlier in the week, followed by two more vessels later.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting in the White House, Trump indicated that the development may reflect quiet engagement between the two sides, even as tensions remain high publicly.
“They said to show you the fact that we’re real and solid; we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight big boats of oil,” Trump said.
According to him, the movement of these tankers began a few days ago, though he only fully realised the scale after watching media reports. Trump said the passage of ships through such a sensitive route stood out as unusual given the current situation.
“I watched the news and they said something’s unusual happening. There are eight boats going right up the middle of the Hormuz Strait,” he said. “Eight big tankers loaded up with oil right through. And I said, well, I guess they were right.”
He further noted that the vessels appeared to be carrying Pakistani flags, suggesting that Islamabad could be playing a role not only in diplomatic outreach but also in facilitating aspects of the movement.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil routes, and any development in the area is closely watched by global markets and governments. Trump’s remarks point to possible behind-the-scenes efforts to ease tensions, even as the broader conflict continues.
