US President Donald Trump has reportedly backflipped on his Strait of Hormuz blockade stance.
“I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
He said the move was made for China’s sake after the nation “agreed not to send weapons to Iran”.
“I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran.”
There is no evidence that the US blockade is not still fully implemented, with the US Central Command tweeting that American forces “remain positioned and ready to act against any vessels seeking to violate the blockade”.
Trump said China is “very happy” about the looming end to the US blockade and that “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks”.
“We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to – far better than anyone else!!!”
The announcement comes as the Iran army warned it would double down on its blockade efforts if Trump did not walk back his own.
The commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said that Iran would blockade “any kind of export and import” in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the American blockade goes on.
“If the aggressive and terrorist America continues its unlawful actions of maritime blockade in the region and creates insecurity for Iranian commercial ships and oil tankers, this action will be considered a prelude to violating the ceasefire,” Abdollahi said, according to semi-official Mehr News Agency.
“Iran will act with full force to defend its national sovereignty and interests.”
