Trump Says Iran Agreed to Allow 20 More Ships of Oil Through Strait of Hormuz

[highplainsdem]

Source: NYT

President Trump said on Sunday night that Iran had agreed to release 20 more cargo ships of oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting on Monday, in what the president insisted was a “tribute” to the United States and a “sign of respect.”

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a weekend spent in Florida, Mr. Trump cast Iran’s decision to allow free passage for the ships as a sign that negotiations were underway toward ending the military conflict in the region, in what he said were direct and indirect talks.

But to many outside experts, Iran’s ability to turn the spigot of oil deliveries on and off simply demonstrates its power to control the narrow, 21-mile-wide passage. Previously Mr. Trump had said he did not care much about what went through the strait because most of the oil goes to customers in Asia and Europe, and very little to the United States.

It was not clear where the 20 cargo ships were headed. China and India are major buyers of Iranian oil. The ships may also belong to Gulf Arab states. Last week, the Iranians allowed about 10 ships to transit the strait, a development that Mr. Trump also hailed as a sign of progress.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/world/middleeast/trump-says-iran-agreed-to-allow-20-more-ships-of-oil-through-strait-of-hormuz.html

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As Ron Filipkowski predicted, in a Bluesky message I posted earlier in GD - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221133597

With oil prices spiking again over the weekend, we are due for another late Sunday/early Monday post from Trump about significant progress with the “peace talks.”

— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) 2026-03-29T22:39:35.010Z