President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be "permanently open" by the United States—and that he's doing this for China and the world.
"China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote on Truth Social. "I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!"
US Central Command on Tuesday morning declared complete US dominance of the Strait of Hormuz and said that no ships have been able to come through the strait.
"More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports," they said. "During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports."
The United States implemented a blockade of Iranian ports and a partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday at 10 am. This comes after peace talks in Islamabad failed due to Iran's unwillingness to agree to never have a nuclear weapon. Pakistan has been a key advocate of talks.
On Tuesday, Xi Jinping said that China would take a "constructive role" in establishing peace talks. State news agency Xinhua said, "Xi Jinping stressed China's principled stance of promoting peace and urging talks, and reiterated it will continue to play a constructive role on this."
"The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf countries in the Middle East should be sincerely respected," Xi said.
"China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote on Truth Social. "I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!"
US Central Command on Tuesday morning declared complete US dominance of the Strait of Hormuz and said that no ships have been able to come through the strait.
"More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports," they said. "During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports."
The United States implemented a blockade of Iranian ports and a partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday at 10 am. This comes after peace talks in Islamabad failed due to Iran's unwillingness to agree to never have a nuclear weapon. Pakistan has been a key advocate of talks.
On Tuesday, Xi Jinping said that China would take a "constructive role" in establishing peace talks. State news agency Xinhua said, "Xi Jinping stressed China's principled stance of promoting peace and urging talks, and reiterated it will continue to play a constructive role on this."
"The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf countries in the Middle East should be sincerely respected," Xi said.
