WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump announced that “massive numbers” of “completely” empty oil tankers were heading to the U.S. to “load up” with oil and gas.
The news comes as Vice President JD Vance traveled overseas for high-level talks aimed at advancing peace efforts amid the conflict with Iran.
“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and ‘sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Saturday morning.”We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined — and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround!” he added.
In a follow up post, Trump said efforts were underway to clear out the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies, calling the action “a favor” to other countries.
“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” the president wrote. “Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.”
Trump also criticized what he described as the “Fake News Media,” He said several outlets have reported that Iran is “winning” the war.
“Everyone knows that they are LOSING, and LOSING BIG!” Trump said of Iran. “Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime ‘Leaders’ are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may ‘bunk’ into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea.”
Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of its most significant strategic moves in the conflict, disrupting global shipping lanes and sharply limiting the flow of oil, natural gas, and fertilizer.
Commercial vessels have largely avoided the narrow waterway, with the disruption driving up energy prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at about $97 on Friday — an increase of more than 30% since the conflict began in late February.
Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil moved through the strait, with more than 100 ships passing through daily, many bound for Asian markets. Since a ceasefire took hold, only a dozen vessels have been recorded transiting the route, according to the Associated Press.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.