>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
The president said he later followed news reports showing tankers moving through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, confirming Tehran was following through on its promise. “And then I watched the news, and they said… ‘there are eight boats that are going right up the middle of the Hormuz Strait, eight big tankers are going loaded up with oil right through,’” Trump recounted. “And I said, ‘Well, I guess they were right, and they were they were real, and I think they were Pakistani flagged.’”
Trump framed the tankers’ movement as evidence that Iran was serious, calling it a pivotal moment in the negotiations. “And I said, ‘Well, I guess we deal with the right people,’” he added, highlighting his belief that Tehran’s actions demonstrated credibility.
The original offer didn’t stop at eight tankers. According to Trump, Iran expanded its gesture following another exchange. “And actually, they then apologize for something. They said, ‘We’re going to send two more boats,’ and it ended up being 10 boats,” he said, describing the additional gift as an unexpected bonus.
Trump did not clarify the details of the transaction, leaving questions about whether the oil would be purchased, seized, transferred through intermediaries, or handled under formal agreements. He also did not specify the tankers’ destinations or how the move aligns with U.S. sanctions.
Despite the unanswered questions, Trump framed Iran’s gesture as a strategic win. He suggested the oil shipments offered leverage for the United States while efforts continue to reopen shipping lanes and stabilize global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, he noted, remains a central point of pressure in the ongoing conflict.
