Making a big claim, US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is currently in a state of “serious crisis” and wants the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. Trump said this in a post on social media; However, it is still unclear how exactly Iran conveyed this message to the US. Meanwhile, there has been no official response from Iran on this claim. On social media, Trump said Iran wants the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without any delay so it can resolve issues related to its leadership.
Questions are being raised on Trump’s claim
Trump also expressed confidence that Iran would be able to resolve its internal differences. However, many questions are being raised about this claim, as the White House has not yet clarified who delivered the message on behalf of Iran, who in the US administration received it, and whether the conversation took place directly or through an intermediary. In his post, Trump wrote: “Iran has told us they are in ‘grave crisis’ and want us to open the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.” This statement of Trump has come at a time when the global energy supply has been badly affected due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important sea lanes, carrying approximately one-fifth of the global oil supply. As a result, closure of this waterway or any obstruction in it has a direct impact on global energy supply and oil prices. Earlier on Monday, Trump held a meeting with his national security team to discuss Iran’s latest proposal. It is being told that this proposal is related to reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said during a press conference that the issue was discussed, but she declined to comment on specific outcomes of the meeting at this time.
Are there any internal differences in Iran’s leadership?
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that although Iran is indeed ‘serious’ about reaching a deal with the US, it also wants to take its time. “Iran wants to find a way out of its current situation, but talks are being hampered by differences of opinion among different factions within the country,” he said. Rubio further said that the ongoing infighting within the Iranian leadership is impacting the peace talks. Furthermore, the US administration believes that naval pressure on Iran’s ports—particularly the blockade—is having an effect.