Donald Trump drew disbelief on Wednesday with his claim that the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow corridor that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil — is in “great shape,” despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
Speaking to reporters about his Iran war at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the president said the Iranian regime was “pretty much at the end of the line” but suggested that did not mean the U.S.-Israeli operation would end.
“We’re just riding free range over their country and now we’re going to look very strongly at the straits,” said Trump. “The straits are in great shape. We’ve knocked out all of their boats. They have some missiles but not very many. I think we’re in very good shape.”
That claim came as the vital shipping route along Iran’s coast is blockaded.
Iran has warned it will fire on any ship attempting to pass through the channel, some vessels have requested U.S. military escorts and three cargo ships have been struck by what officials described as “unknown projectiles.”
Many critics on social media had one word to sum up Trump’s “straits” boast: “Dire.” Others used the moment to reference the British rock band Dire Straits.
