Trump during ceasefire negotiations: Hormuz will open quite soon, with or without Iran

The Strait of Hormuz would "open fairly soon" with or without Iran, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday. He agreed that it would not be an easy move, but he did not go into further detail.

"It won't be easy. I would say this – we will have that open fairly soon," Trump told reporters while boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Trump also suggested that other countries were offering help but did not identify any nation. "Other countries use the strait. So we do have other countries coming up, and they'll help out," Trump said.

Additionally, Trump stated that because the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, the US will not permit Iran to collect tolls from ships traveling through it. His reaction came after it was reported by the Financial Times that Tehran would charge oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz $1 per barrel.

Oman, which controls the crucial strait alongside Iran, refuted any such ambitions. The greatest interruption to the world's oil supply in history has resulted from Tehran's blockade of the Strait since the beginning of the Iran War. About 20% of the world's shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas are blocked by the strait.

The inability of NATO partners to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz has angered Trump. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte informed European states during his meeting with Trump on Thursday that the US president wants specific pledges to safeguard the strait within days.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Iran retaliated by attacking American bases in Gulf states and Israel. Millions have been displaced and thousands have died as a result of Israeli bombings on Lebanon and U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.Global markets have been rocked and oil prices have increased due to the conflict. After threatening to wipe out Iran's whole civilization, Washington on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Tehran. While Israel continues to attack neighboring Lebanon, ship travel via the strait has remained blocked, endangering the precarious ceasefire.