US president Donald Trump on Monday demanded that countries benefiting from the security of the Strait of Hormuz reimburse Washington for the costs of protecting the crucial oil-shipping route, accusing nations of providing “no help whatsoever” during the conflict with Iran.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said oil was continuing to flow through the strategic waterway and argued that the United States should be compensated once the military conflict ends.“Oil is flowing through the Hormuz Strait. The Countries of the World, which have been no help to us whatsoever, should, and will, reimburse the United States of America when this SCAM Confligration is all over,” Trump wrote.“We are doing it much more for others, than we are for ourselves, and we have been for Generations!”, the US president added.Meanwhile, Tehran asserts control over the strategic waterway and maintains restrictions on shipping. Iranian officials have said that vessels must follow routes and procedures set by Tehran, while Washington has rejected Iran’s claim to control the strait.Trump’s demand came as the US military continued efforts to keep oil shipments moving through the waterway. Earlier on Monday, energy secretary Chris Wright told reporters that the number of oil shipments escorted by the US Navy through Hormuz was increasing on average, according to Reuters.Trump has repeatedly sought to portray the US military campaign against Iran as a success. He has claimed that Washington has already won the war, destroyed Iran’s military and “obliterated” its nuclear programme, even as US military officials have raised concerns about depleted arsenals and overstretched ships at sea.Trump also sought to shift responsibility for higher prices in the US away from his administration, blaming former President Joe Biden for inflation and elevated oil prices.In another post, he wrote, “I hope everyone realizes that price increases throughout America were caused by Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, not by “TRUMP.” Even Oil was higher under Biden than it is right now, and we prevented Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon!”THe claimed that the oil prices would “drop like a rock” once the Iran conflict ends, which he expects to happen soon. Earlier on Monday, Trump had also indicated that Tehran was seeking negotiations.“The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA. will choose to engage – The concept of which we are open to,” Trump wrote.
