President Trump dropped a hint on Tuesday, in the context of another dig at U.S. allies in Europe who have declined to join the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, that he could be prepared to abandon efforts to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic.
After issuing increasingly aggressive threats to order attacks on Iran’s civilian power and water infrastructure if it does not make a deal to end the war and reopen the vital shipping lane, Mr. Trump said Monday that other countries, which rely much more directly on oil and gas from the Persian Gulf, could be left to “get your own oil!”
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Mr. Trump had told aides he’d be willing to end the war on Iran even without wresting control of the Strait of Hormuz from Tehran, which is blocking vessels it deems linked to the U.S. or Israel and imposing hefty fees on some other ships to transit the strait.
According to the Journal, Mr. Trump and his aides have recently come to the conclusion that a military operation to force Iran to reopen the key shipping lane would likely extend the war beyond his stated timeline of up to six weeks.
Analysts have warned that while the U.S. does not rely significantly on energy imports from the Persian Gulf, due to the global nature of gas and oil markets a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to keep prices elevated for American consumers.
