By ify Okoli
US
President Donald Trump has said the Strait of Hormuz is in “extremely good
shape”, claiming that US naval assistance has helped an average of 30 ships pass
through the waterway each night.
Speaking to reporters at
the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said many ships had passed through the strait
the previous night, with large volumes of oil also moving through the strategic
waterway.
“We have the Strait of Hormuz
in extremely good shape. You know, we're taking over,” Trump said.
“Many, many ships got
through last night. As you know, with the Navy's assistance, and we've been
averaging 30 ships a night. That's a lot, and a lot of oil coming out.”
Trump linked the
movement of oil through the strait to oil prices, saying the flow had helped
prevent prices from rising as much as expected.
“That's why you haven't
seen the price of oil go like they thought it might have to go,” he said.
Trump
also described Iran as a “failed nation”, citing what he said was 350%
inflation, the absence of a functioning currency and difficulties paying
Iranian soldiers.
“They're
a failed nation. They've got 350% inflation. They have no currency. They're not
paying their soldiers,” he said.
Trump
also claimed that many of Iran's leaders were dead and that the country's navy,
air force and surveillance equipment had suffered major losses.
“Their
leaders are largely dead. Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their
surveillance equipment is almost entirely gone,” he said.
Despite
describing Iran as a failed nation, Trump warned that this did not mean the
United States would refrain from taking further action.
“That
doesn't mean we won't smack them. We'll see what happens,” he said.
Trump
also said he was uncertain about who was currently leading Iran, saying the
country's leadership structure was unclear.
“I don't really think they know who their leader is,” he
said.
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