World anxious to open Hormuz Strait as Trump, Iran trade threats

“We’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong,” Trump said in a Wednesday evening speech.

Still defiant despite the death of a slew of its leaders, Iran said it was drafting a protocol with Oman on monitoring ships in the strait which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil consumption in ​normal times but is now virtually closed.

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“We are developing a protocol for Iran and Oman to monitor passage and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, according to the ​official IRNA news agency.

“Of course, these requirements will not mean restrictions, but rather to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships that pass through this route.”

In his speech, Trump suggested the war could escalate if Iran did not give in to Washington’s terms during negotiations, with strikes on Iran’s energy and oil infrastructure possible.

He told countries that rely on ​fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to “just grab it”.

However, European and other states have said they will only help secure the strait if there is a ceasefire.

Britain chaired a virtual meeting of some 40 countries to explore ways ​to restore freedom of navigation, saying the focus was on diplomatic and economic tools.

“It can only be done in consultation with Iran,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.