U.S. President Donald Trump announced that they will take control of the Strait of Hormuz, taking a new step in the tension with Iran. Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated that they will manage the strategic waterway and will receive payment for the protection service.
"We are taking over the strait. They have nothing," Trump said, stressing that they will continue pressure on Iran. The U.S. President used the expressions, "We will hold the strait. Probably we will manage it. We will be the guardians of the strait."
Fee to be charged for protection
Trump claimed that they will now charge a fee for ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz. "Unlike what we have done for many years, we cannot be expected to do this for free," Trump said, adding, "We have protected the strait for more than 50 years and never received any money. They took all the money."
The U.S. President also added that they "protected the strait for nothing" in this process.
Trump, who claimed that they had previously reached an agreement with Iran but that Tehran broke this agreement, said, "There was an 11-hour meeting yesterday. The deal was done but then they broke it. They always break it. We made 10 deals with these people."
Targeting former presidents, Trump argued that previous presidents, including Barack Obama, allowed the Tehran administration to do what it did for 47 years. Trump also added that Iran "got nothing" from him.