Trump presses oil tankers to sail through Strait of Hormuz, says 'show some guts'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump urged oil tanker operators to continue sailing through the Strait of Hormuz despite the risks, saying there was “nothing to be afraid of.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade on “Fox & Friends” on Monday, March 9, Trump said the military campaign had severely weakened Iranian capabilities to strike vessels.
Trump tells tanker crews to ‘show some guts’
Kilmeade recounted the president’s message to shipping companies during their conversation.
“He says, ‘Tell these tankers to get themselves, get to it, we have wiped out most of their launchers,’” Kilmeade said, quoting Trump. “These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts. There’s nothing to be afraid of. [The Iranians] have no navy, we sunk all their ships.”
Trump says he is weighing additional naval escorts
Trump also suggested Iran’s remaining missile launchers were limited in number and unlikely to be replenished.
According to Kilmeade, the president said roughly 150 launchers remain, about 20% of Iran’s original capacity, adding that Tehran cannot replace them quickly.
Kilmeade said the Trump administration may be preparing to deploy additional naval assets to escort commercial vessels through the strait. He also noted that at least one tanker successfully transited the route on Sunday without incident.
Summarizing Trump’s message, Kilmeade said the president was urging shipping companies to resume operations: “He’s saying, ‘Come on, guys. Get to it.’”
Oil prices surge past $100 per barrel
Global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel early on Monday as concerns mounted over potential disruptions to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route south of Iran.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes through the narrow waterway. However, tanker traffic has slowed sharply since the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran escalated more than a week ago.
The tensions follow joint US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military installations, which have triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran using drones and rockets against oil- and gas-producing nations in the Gulf, several of which host US military bases.
Trump downplays oil price surge
Trump has acknowledged the spike in oil prices but dismissed it as a temporary consequence of the conflict.
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for US, and World, Safety and Peace,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
Oil markets have remained volatile since the United States and Israel launched their coordinated strikes on Iran just over a week ago, fueling fears of prolonged instability in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
