Trump's week in review: Strait of Hormuz, Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, Jesus meme backlash

5. Trump announces reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

While Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire last week, one of the terms of the agreement had remained unfulfilled: the “complete” and “immediate” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump expressed outrage in Truth Social posts last week about “reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers through the Hormuz Strait” and accused Iran of acting dishonorably. 

Over the weekend, Trump announced the implementation of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s actions. On Friday, Trump shared a series of updates on the situation in Iran on Truth Social. “THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE,” he proclaimed in the first post.

Trump said in a subsequent post that “Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed or is removing, all sea mines!” Concerns about sea mines were a major point of contention that led to the blockade. 

In a third post, Trump expressed gratitude that “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again,” adding, “It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” Trump’s remarks reflect the fact that the Strait of Hormuz plays an important role in distributing oil worldwide.