Trump defends Iran war as Strait of Hormuz shipping falls
The US president says he would make the same decision again as regional governments pursue diplomatic and military coordination over disrupted shipping.
US President Donald Trump has said he has no regrets about launching the reported US-Israeli war against Iran, despite the conflict’s potential impact on Republicans at November’s midterm elections.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump said he would do “exactly” the same if given another chance. He also rejected suggestions that the war had upset or demoralised some of his supporters.
The conflict has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day before the war began on 28 February. Those shipments represented about 20 per cent of the world’s daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
Preliminary vessel-tracking data recorded seven transits through the strait on Thursday, down from 11 the previous day and below a 10-day average of 15. The figures may exclude vessels that crossed with their identification transponders switched off.
Diplomatic efforts are also emerging around navigation and shipping. South Korea’s foreign minister discussed freedom of navigation through the strait with his Iranian counterpart, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry. Gulf foreign ministers are reportedly due to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Oman on Monday over a possible temporary shipping arrangement, the Financial Times reported.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged Trump twice to strike the Houthis, according to Axios, but Trump rejected the request. The report said US officials were seeking to support Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct military involvement in Yemen, with American forces focused on Iran and protecting the strait.
