Kamal Ghorui
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out at allies over rising fuel prices, mocking the United Kingdom and other countries hit by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, telling them to “get your own oil” amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. He also criticised France as “unhelpful” claiming that the United states will remember.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said countries facing jet fuel shortages due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz should rely on themselves.“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just take it,” he said.“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” he added.Trump also criticised France, alleging it had been “unhelpful” in the elimination of the “Butcher of Iran.”“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been very unhelpful with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The USA will remember!!!,” he wrote in a separate post.The remarks come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iran tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes.The narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean is now effectively shut, sharply reducing daily maritime traffic and disrupting the movement of container ships, dry bulk carriers, and oil tankers.The disruption, along with Iranian attacks on regional energy infrastructure, has pushed up global oil prices and rattled financial markets. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was hovering around $106 a barrel on Tuesday, up more than 45% since the war began on February 28.Trump had earlier warned that the United States could widen its military offensive if the situation does not improve.He said that if a ceasefire is not reached “shortly,” and if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, the US could target key Iranian infrastructure, including the Kharg Island oil export hub and possibly desalination plants.This follows after Trump granted a 10-day cooling-off period last week to Iran, describing the decision as a response to a “gift” from Tehran, allowing eight oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and pausing planned strikes on key energy infrastructure.He also framed the move as a sign of progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts, adding that Iran had sought more time through backchannel communications.“They said to me very nicely, through my people, ‘Could we have more time?’ Because we’re talking about tomorrow night, which is pretty quick, and if they don’t do what they have to do, I will knock out their power plants,” Trump told Fox News.
