President says Tehran allowed eight loaded vessels to transit key waterway as a signal during ongoing negotiations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran’s previously referenced “present” to the United States involved allowing a group of oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump described the development as a gesture tied to ongoing interactions between U.S. and Iranian officials.
“I told you about a present, Right? Steve, can I reveal the present?” Trump said. “They said, ‘to show you the fact that we’re real and solid and we’re there, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil.’ This was two days ago, and they’ll sail up tomorrow.”
Trump said the vessels were permitted to travel through the strategic waterway carrying oil, an unusual move given heightened tensions and disruptions to maritime traffic in the region.
“That was three days ago, and I didn’t think much about it, and then I watched the news, and they said a very good anchor actually happened to be Fox when I watched it, and he said, ‘Something’s unusual happening. There are eight boats that are going right up the middle of the Hormuz straight. Eight big tankers are going loaded up with oil right through,’” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Well, I guess, I guess they were, they were real.’”
The president indicated that the tankers were flying Pakistani flags and said he viewed their transit as a sign that Iranian officials were engaging in negotiations in good faith.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through the narrow passage. Maritime activity in the area has been closely monitored amid ongoing military tensions and disruptions linked to the conflict.
Trump’s comments mark the first time he has publicly clarified the nature of the “present” he referenced earlier in the week, when he suggested Iran had made a gesture related to oil or energy without providing details.
Officials have not indicated whether similar actions are expected in the future, but the development comes as both sides continue to navigate a combination of military pressure and diplomatic engagement.
Original article
Comments