By Anjali Sharma
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.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that “China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World”.
He 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.
Trump added that Washington and Beijing are “working smartly” and “very well”.
He said “Doesn’t that beat fighting???” added Trump.
Trump sought to remind that the US is “very good at fighting” and “far better than anyone else”.
He had announced a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after 1st round of talks collapsed.
According to the US military the blockade had begun on Monday and “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.
China called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports “irresponsible”, warning it could significantly “undermine” the ceasefire.
It denied reports that Beijing was preparing to send new air defence systems to Iran, called them “completely fabricated”.
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.
Ali Abdollahi the commander for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, in a statement 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”.
