President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. will guide the ships of “neutral and innocent bystanders” out of the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations to end the war in Iran continue.
The announcement came at a time when negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are at a rocky point. Trump recently rejected two peace plans offered by the Iranians because they asked him to delay talks about the country’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz entirely.
“Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”
“I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait,” he added. “In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else.”
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed since late February after the war in Iran began. The move has sent global energy prices skyrocketing and left U.S. allies in Europe with an incredibly low energy reserve.
Trump said on Truth Social that negotiations with Iran are ongoing.
“This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran. Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale (sic) crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” Trump wrote.
“I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months,” he added. “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
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