Pres. Trump urges resumption of oil tanker sailings

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Despite repeated assurances from President Donald Trump, oil tankers have been avoiding the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. military conflict with Iran began nearly two weeks ago. The President said he’s now confident that the Strait is safe to cross.

Just a day after the Pentagon said it eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying boats, Gray Media’s White House correspondent Jon Decker asked President Trump about his latest conversations with the world’s largest oil companies.

JON DECKER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT:

“Are you talking to CEOs of various oil companies encouraging them to use the Strait of Hormuz?”

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:

“They should. I think they should. I think they should use gas industry. I mean, look, we took out just about all of their mine ships in one night. We’re up to boat number 60. I didn’t realize that that big a navy, I would say, was big and ineffective. But every one of the ships, just about all of their navy is gone.”

Before the conflict with Iran, 20 percent of the world’s oil was transported through the Strait every day. Now that number is down to zero.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said earlier this week it will not allow even “one litre of oil” to leave the region if the U.S.-led attacks continue. That threat has led every major oil company to avoid the Strait altogether.

Wednesday, the International Energy Agency confirmed, its 32 member countries will release a combined 400 million barrels of petroleum from their reserves. Later on Wednesday, President Trump confirmed he’s authorized the use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.