Iran Rejects Trump Bid to Claim 20%-of-Oil Hormuz as U.S. Territory
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Aug 15
Iran Rejects Trump Bid to Claim 20%-of-Oil Hormuz as U.S. Territory
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 15
Summary
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz “cannot be seized with a tweet” after Trump said he would soon declare the waterway U.S. territory, and warned it would keep enforcing its blockade.
Only two vessels passed through the strait on Friday, versus a normal 130-140 in peacetime, with no crude shipments visible, underscoring how little traffic is moving despite the waterway’s global importance.
A bulk carrier was hit in the hull by an unknown projectile in the strait on Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said, adding the crew was safe and damage was still unclear.
Oil markets remain elevated as the disruption drags on: U.S. crude futures rose $1 on Friday and Brent was headed for a 6.0% weekly gain.
A 60-day window to end the war expires Monday, but Iran’s foreign minister said no Tehran-Washington negotiations are under way, leaving peace talks at an impasse.