President Donald Trump praised the “massive numbers” of empty tanker vessels that are traveling to the United States for oil as the Strait of Hormuz effectively remains closed despite a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
Hours earlier, Trump shared a map of empty tankers heading toward the U.S. Gulf Coast to pick up crude oil. The president called the news “great.”
Recommended Stories
“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and “sweetest” oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World,” he posted on Truth Social Saturday morning. “We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined – and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround!”
The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, has been the source of high energy prices around the world after the U.S. and Israel started attacking Iran in late February.
Both sides of the conflict agreed to reopen the waterway earlier this week when a tentative deal to end the fighting was made. However, Iran continues blocking the narrow strait to commercial traffic.
Trump has vowed to forcibly secure the Strait of Hormuz if Iran does not hold up its end of the bargain.
Several U.S. Navy ships reportedly crossed the strait filled with sea mines on Saturday in a move that was not coordinated with the Islamic regime, according to Axios.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” Trump said in a separate post later Saturday morning.
“Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves,” he added before reiterating his prior post. “Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil.”
The development comes as Vice President JD Vance leads a U.S. delegation to begin peace talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan. The latest negotiations are taking place on Saturday. Tensions are high between the U.S. and Iran amid the fragile truce.
Much of the pressure stems from the volatility around international trade as oil and gas prices remain at record levels. Fertilizer costs have also seen a spike since the Iran war started, as many exporters of key fertilizer chemicals are based in the Persian Gulf.
The global fertilizer industry has been jostled by China’s decision to restrict exports of critical fertilizer inputs, such as nitrogen-potassium blends and urea. China is also reportedly considering halting exports of sulfuric acid, a critical ingredient in fertilizers, starting in May. The chemical accounts for over half of global production used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers.
HIGH STAKES NEGOTIATIONS ON IRAN, ISRAEL, AND LEBANON TO PLAY OUT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Trump rejected the effective “price gouging” from the foreign adversary.
“I am watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran,” he wrote. “The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back!”
