WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he is “permanently” opening the Strait of Hormuz and that China is very happy with the decision.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He further claimed that China has agreed “not to send weapons to Iran” and clarified that this situation will never happen again.
“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,” he said.
The US President further added that Washington and Beijing are “working smartly” and “very well”. “Doesn’t that beat fighting???” added Trump.
In the same breath, Trump, however, sought to remind that the US is “very good at fighting” and “far better than anyone else”.
After last week’s peace talks with Iran collapsed, Trump had announced a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade had begun on Monday and according to the US military “no ships made it past the blockade” in the first 24 hours. However, some Chinese vessels reportedly managed to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier on Tuesday, China called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports “irresponsible”, warning it could significantly “undermine” the ceasefire.
China also denied reports that Beijing was preparing to send new air defence systems to Iran, calling them “completely fabricated”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s military has also warned it will not allow “any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea” if the US blockade of its ports continues.
In a statement, Ali Abdollahi – the commander for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said that the US blockade would create “insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers”, it will “constitute a prelude to a violation of the ceasefire”.
Agencies