President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic, directly contradicting Iran's earlier claim of closure. The comments came during a telephone interview with NBC News' Meet the Press program, where Trump addressed the latest escalation in the region.
Trump's remarks on the Strait of Hormuz
"It's open. We bombed the hell out of them last night. They are very, very evil and sick people," Trump said when asked about the waterway's status. He claimed that during negotiations, Iran had agreed to a deal that was "perfect for us," including concessions on nuclear activities. However, according to Trump, Iran launched a drone at a ship within an hour of leaving the meeting. "I said you people are sick, you are sick people," he added.
Focus on Senator Lindsey Graham
The majority of the interview was dedicated to Trump's close ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on Saturday evening at age 71 due to a "brief and sudden illness," as confirmed by his office. Trump expressed his desire to focus on Graham, stating, "I want to talk about one person today, Lindsey Graham."
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has been a flashpoint in the region, with Iran previously threatening to close it amid heightened tensions.
