US President Donald Trump on Thursday said oil supply would continue “with or without the help of Iran" as tensions escalated over the Strait of Hormuz following a fragile ceasefire.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of failing to uphold commitments under the two-week truce and warned against any move to restrict or tax maritime traffic through the critical oil transit route.
“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said. “That is not the agreement we have!"
He added, “very quickly, you’ll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran."
Ceasefire Under Strain
The remarks come days after the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire aimed at reopening the 167-km Strait of Hormuz, a key passage connecting the Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
However, maritime tracking data showed that only 10 vessels have passed through the strait since the truce came into effect, raising concerns over disruptions to global oil supply.
Tensions further escalated after reports suggested Iran may impose fees on tankers using the route. Trump warned against such a move, saying, “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"
Shift In Tone
Trump’s comments marked a shift from his earlier stance, where he told NBC News he was “very optimistic" about a peace deal and described Iran’s leadership as “much more reasonable" in private.
He, however, cautioned that failure to reach an agreement would have consequences, saying, “if they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be very painful."
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
Vice President JD Vance is expected to hold talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan on Saturday. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also travelling to Islamabad as part of diplomatic efforts.
“The president is optimistic that a deal can be reached that can lead to lasting peace in the Middle East," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed during a call with Trump to scale down operations in Lebanon, with talks between Israel and Lebanon scheduled in Washington next week, a US State Department official said.
The latest escalation follows Israeli strikes on Lebanon that killed hundreds, further straining the already fragile truce less than 48 hours after it took effect.
Source: News18