United States PresidentDonald Trumpon Thursday said that the US has "total control" over theStrait of Hormuzand has ordered the country's navy to shoot any boat which is found putting mines in the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it. It has been a major flashpoint since the beginning of theUS-Israel-Iran war.
"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation," Trump posted on social media.
He said that the US forces are clearing the mines. "Additionally, our mine "sweepers" are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!" he later.
Trump said that no boats can enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz without the US' approval. "We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy."
"It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!" he said.
Notably, Trump's posts came hours after it was reported that Iran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian parliament official said on Thursday that Tehran has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, the country's Tasnim news agency reported. "The first revenue received from the Strait of Hormuz tolls was deposited into the Central Bank account," said deputy speaker of parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei, according to Tasnim news agency.
Other Iranian media carried the same statement, without elaborating.
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Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ...View More
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