Trump claims Iran gave him 'present' related to Hormuz
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has given the US a "present" related to oil, gas, and the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the gift was "worth a tremendous amount of money" but didn't elaborate on its specifics. He confirmed it was not nuclear-related and hinted at its connection with the flow in Hormuz.
Trump
'Was a very big present'
"It was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money," Trump said. "They gave it to us, and they said they were going to give it. That meant one thing to me. [That we're] dealing with the right people... They're the only ones [who] could have done it." When Asked if the US will control Hormuz after the war, Trump says, "We'll have control of anything we want." "I think we're going to end [the war]," he added.
Conflict resolution
Ending war with Iran
Trump also expressed optimism about the possibility of ending the war with Iran soon, claiming that Tehran was keen to "make a deal." He said that the current Iranian leadership had already undergone significant changes. "It's what we really have, regime change. You know, this is a change in the regime because the leaders are all very different from the ones that we started off with that created all those problems," he said.
Nuclear agreement
Temporary halt to planned strikes against Iranian energy targets
At a Memphis Safe Task Force Roundtable, Trump also announced that Iran agreed not to possess a nuclear weapon. "They're talking to us and they're talking sense. And remember, it all starts with they cannot have a nuclear weapon ... I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that," he claimed.
Denial
Iran allows 'non-hostile' vessels through Strait of Hormuz
Shortly after Trump's claims, the Financial Times reported that Iran informed member states of the International Maritime Organization that "non-hostile vessels" may be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities. In a letter shared with IMO members, Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran has "taken necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz to advance hostile operations against Iran."