WASHINGTON, United States
The United States President, Donald Trump told the United Kingdom and other countries which did not take part in strikes against Iran, to “get your own oil”, as he told them they should attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for the world’s energy supplies, themselves.
He also reignited his row with Sir Keir Starmer, hitting out at the government, which he said “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran” and telling it to “start learning how to fight for yourself”.
Donald Trump said the UK should make its own attempts to unblock the Strait of Hormuz to get oil supplies going again.
He posted on his Truth Social platform: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.
“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" President Trump said.
Less than an hour after President Trump’s post, his defence secretary Pete Hegseth also hit out at the Royal Navy.
At a press conference, he said: “There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.
“It is not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”
He added that the “world ought to pay attention, to be prepared to stand up.”
In response, Downing Street pointed to the Sir Keir’s comments in recent days in which he said his focus was on de-escalation in the war.
President Trump’s rant follows a warning from the International Monetary Fund that the UK is facing one of the largest shocks from the conflict in the Middle East, saying Britain’s economy is “especially exposed” to spiralling prices because of its reliance on gas‑fired power.
It comes after reports that the UK is set to receive its last-known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East this week, and as fuel prices soar because of supply issues linked to the closure of the Strait.
President Trump has also reportedly told senior aides he is considering withdrawing from the conflict without a plan in place to open the key waterway. That would leave Tehran in control of the vital shipping lane, prolonging economic chaos around the world.
Iran has imposed a de facto blockade on the waterway, upending global oil and gas supplies, which have caused energy prices to surge.
The Islamic Republic has allowed some ships to pass through in a “tollbooth” system, where vessels pay as much as $2m per voyage or according to particular political and financial conditions.
But prolonged closure threatens to extend disruption to the world’s energy supplies, with the prices per barrel of oil continuing to rise above $100 – the first time since 2022.
No comments:
Post a Comment