Washington: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through a crucial Gulf shipping route, as he justified his war on Iran by saying he believed Tehran was about to strike first, agencies reported.
Trump has offered varying explanations for the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. The president, who campaigned to end US wars in West Asia, has provided no clear strategy for what happens next. The strikes and Iran’s fiery retaliation have destabilised West Asia while sparking an economic chaos worldwide, with ships steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz near Iran — one of the world’s key oil corridors.
Trump’s claims of economic success is now at risk with midterm elections slated later this year. It is in this backdrop and also to calm nerves, he pledged US warships for protection.
“If necessary, the United Stat
es Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He also directed Washington to insure commercial vessels. US markets cut losses post-announcement, but crude prices continued to remain high.
Meanwhile, as debate grows over Trump’s decision for the largest US West Asia entanglement in decades, he rejected claims that Israel pushed him into the strikes. This is not in line with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Monday statement that the US stepped in after learning of Israel’s solo plans.
In his first public remarks since February 28 operation, Trump claimed the US-Israel action crippled Iran’s forces. “Just about everything’s been knocked out,” Trump said, noting Iran’s navy, air force, and radars were disabled.
Trump also gave no solid path for Iran’s leadership transition, stating “most of the people we had in mind are dead.” He warned the “worst case” could see a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — who died in the February 28 strikes — as problematic.
“I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn’t want that to happen,” Trump remarked while meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office. “So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”