'Open Strait of Hormuz, take oil, make a fortune': What Trump claims US can do in 'little more time'

US President Donald Trump made yet another strong claim on Friday, asserting that the US can easily open the Strait of Hormuz. Taking to Truth Social -- his preferred social media platform owned by one of his own companies, the US president wrote: "With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A 'GUSHER' FOR THE WORLD???"

His latest remarks come at a time when the Middle East conflict -- which began with joint US-Israel strikes against Tehran late last month -- is in its second month, and retaliatory action by Iran against Israel and several other Middle Eastern countries has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely blocked, oil markets tense and global investors puzzled.

On Thursday, he said the US hadn't "even started destroying what's left in Iran", adding that Iranian bridges were "next" and "then electric power plants".

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All eyes on Strait of Hormuz

At the centre of the conflict is the Strait of Hormuz -- a crucial maritime region connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, which normally enables the passage of about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas. Since the onset of the conflict, many of the POTUS's claims have been disputed by the Iranian side, fuelling concerns about the impact of prolonged escalation in the region on global energy markets.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, Trump threatened to launch "extremely hard" attacks against Iran, stating that the US would hit the country "over the next 2-3 weeks" in strikes that would send "them back to the Stone Ages where they belong".

The American president hinted at further escalations if Iran did not agree to Washington's terms. Earlier, he had promised not to target Iran's power infrastructure until April 6. Many financial experts across the world have factored in mismatches between Trump's claims and actual action over the past year, a period that also saw his administration initiate a global trade war until the US Supreme Court struck down the levies as illegal this year.

How India is tackling Middle East disruptions

India has since ramped up its domestic crude oil output and diversified imports to meet its petroleum product needs, assuring the public of no shortages while prioritising cooking gas supplies to households and essential services. It has already restored much of its commercial LPG supplies, apprising the public regularly and urging citizens not to panic-buy fuels.

Here are some of the latest updates in the month-long US-Israel-Iran conflict:

Israeli PM claims about 70% of Iran's steel production destroyed

Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that coordinated military action with the US against Iran and its allied groups like Hezbollah has left about 70 per cent of Iran’s steel production destroyed and weakened its military funding, according to foreign media reports.

War crime? What law experts allege

Several American law experts have criticised the Trump administration's handling of the conflict, raising serious concerns about potential international human rights and humanitarian law violations, according to foreign media reports.

Some have even reportedly criticised Trump's language, including his "Stone Age" remark, as the language of war crimes.

Iran escalations continue

Tehran reportedly launched a series of strikes against Israel and Gulf nations after fresh joint US-Israel strikes targeted Iran's infrastructure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said America's image will "never recover" following its strike on the B1 bridge near Karaj (West Tehran).

Here are answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the story:

What did Donald Trump say?

The American president said that the US could “easily open” the Strait of Hormuz and take oil.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

The maritime region normally carries about 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supplies.

Why is the region tense now?

The conflict escalated after US-Israel strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation across the region, disrupting shipping routes.

What are the risks to global markets?

Supply disruptions could push oil prices higher and increase inflation risks worldwide.

What are legal concerns being raised?

Some experts say certain actions and commentary may violate international humanitarian law.