U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz would lose its past importance because of alternative oil transportation routes and new pipelines.
Trump said the United States was preparing new sanctions against Iran and described the measures as “strong.” However, he did not give a date for when the sanctions would begin to be implemented.
Claims about the Strait of Hormuz
Trump said large quantities of oil were transported to global markets through the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that passage through the strait was entirely under the control of the U.S. Navy and that only ships approved by the United States could use it.
Trump said Texas, Alaska and Louisiana, as well as other routes, provided alternatives for oil transportation. He claimed that numerous new pipelines had been built and said these developments had reduced the importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s remarks on North Korea
The U.S. president said his relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were good and expressed the view that large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea were no longer necessary.
Trump described the exercises as “humiliating” for North Korea and claimed that Pyongyang had treated the United States well. He said Kim Jong-un had not established good relations with former U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden but had been able to reach an understanding with him.
Trump said there had been no problems between Washington and Pyongyang during his presidency. He also expressed his displeasure that South Korea had refused to help the United States in the war against Iran.
