Trump vows to keep Iran blockade despite ceasefire deadline
President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to maintain US blockade of Iranian ports if no peace deal reached, adding he may not extend the ceasefire expiring Wednesday. "Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Iran reopened Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but threatened to close the vital waterway again if US blockade continues. Key differences remain between US and Iran demands, which failed to reach agreement in Pakistan talks.
Trump insisted there would be "no tolls" imposed by Iran on ships through Hormuz and claimed China's Xi Jinping was "very happy" about the global oil chokepoint reopening. Trump also said Washington and Tehran would jointly transfer enriched uranium to US under the plan, though Iran's foreign ministry stated its uranium stockpile would not be transferred "anywhere."
With oil prices sensitive to Hormuz disruptions, how should Nigerian oil-dependent industries prepare for potential supply chain disruptions if the waterway closes again?