US3 min(s) read
Published 12:59 15 Apr 2026 GMT
Donald Trump confirms he's 'permanently' opening the Strait of Hormuz - here's what will happen next
President Donald Trump has claimed that he is going to open the Strait of Hormuz despite recently reaching an impasse on peace talks with Iran.
He took to social media to confirm the news, which will be music to the ears of numerous nations around the world who were approaching, or already experiencing a shortage in oil.
The Strait of Hormuz is responsible for the export of 20 percent of the world's total crude oil, and its closure over the past couple of months has had a detrimental effect on the world economy.
This claim comes just hours after the President told Fox News that the war in Iran is "very close" to ending, in a snippet of a new interview.
He claimed: "I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,
"If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished,
"We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly."
Donald Trump will "permanently" open the Strait of Hormuz
Taking to Truth Social, he said that he will be opening the strait, claiming that Chinese president Xi Jinping will give him a “big, fat hug” when they next meet.
He wrote, in full: "China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also - And the World.
"This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks.
"We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!"
Failure to progress peace talks
US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to progress over the weekend, leaving a question mark over the world's economy.
But after the US started their blockade, it was reported by Iranian news agency Mehr News that they would start to use alternative ports for their exports to bypass the US military.
The Strait of Hormuz is used for the majority of Iran's exports, including oil, which is the nation's most profitable export by far.
US military to send thousands of troops to Middle East
A report from the Washington Post reveals that the US military is set to send thousands more troops into the Middle East in the next few days.
The decision was made as the Trump administration has decided to continue its attempts to keep pressure on Iran to agree to a deal to end the war.
This latest report cited US officials, though it is not clear how many troops will be sent to the region.
It is yet to be confirmed publicly by any official figures.