Opening Strait or Hormuz for world, China happy, war close to over: Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States is opening the Strait of Hormuz for the world, stating that the "situation will never happen again". He also claimed that China has appreciated the move and agreed that it won't send weapons to Iran in the conflict.

He also reportedly expressed confidence that the Iran war is close to over.

China very happy that I am permanently opening Strait of Hormuz, Xi to give me a big, fat hug: Trump

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In a post on social network Truth Social, owned by his company, Trump wrote that "China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz".

"I am doing it for them (China)" and for the world, asserted Trump.

He also wrote: "President Xi (Jinping) will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks."

Trump's mention of an official visit to the Chinese capital comes roughly a fortnight after his visit was postponed due to the Middle East conflict.

According to foreign media reports, the US president is likely to visit Beijing in mid-May. This could be his first visit to China in eight years that will come a year after the US slapped sweeping global tariffs on most of its trade partners, including China.

US-China working together smartly: Trump

"We are working together smartly, and very well!" wrote Trump, referring to China.

"Doesn’t that beat fighting?" he quipped, adding: "BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!"

Earlier in the day, Trump said that talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan within the next two days. His remarks came after Saturday's talks in Islamabad fell through. Officials from Pakistan and Iran reportedly confirmed that both negotiating teams could arrive in Pakistan later this week.

On Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance reportedly said that deep mistrust between the US and Iran cannot be solved overnight.

Vance said that the Iranian side wanted to make a deal.

The Vice President led the team of US negotiators, whereas the Iranian team was led by the country's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Strait of Hormuz | US blockade and energy supplies...

Crude oil prices hovered around the $95 a barrel mark on Wednesday, some 20 per cent off a nearly four-year high of $119.5 a barrel hit amid rising escalations a month ago. Most analysts expect benchmark oil rates to stay elevated over the next few weeks owing to backlogs even after the strait is fully reopened.

On Monday, the US enforced a naval blockade on Iran despite renewed hopes of a second round of peace talks.

The Strait of Hormuz -- a maritime region connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea -- has been effectively shut for more than six weeks since joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran killed its supreme leader and triggered Tehran's retaliatory action against several countries in the Middle East.

Why did the talks fail?

Trump said that though Iranian negotiators agreed on most points, the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions could not be resolved.

The US wants Iran not to own nuclear power, whereas Tehran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium for peaceful civilian energy purposes.

The US has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran. Tehran also wants international sanctions removed.

Israel's position

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Iran for violating negotiation terms, backing Trump's position on the Strait of Hormuz. Highlighting “unprecedented” coordination between Israel and the US, Netanyahu said that Israeli forces are making “significant progress” in southern Lebanon, pushing threats away from the border.

The inclusion of Lebanon in a two-week ceasefire announced last week has been one of the main points of diplomatic friction between Israel, the US and Iran.

Israel has clearly said Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire, while Iran maintains that it is. The US appears to have sent mixed signals -- initially suggesting Lebanon was included and then describing it as a “misunderstanding.

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

What has Trump said about the Strait of Hormuz?

The POTUS has said that America is “permanently opening” the Strait of Hormuz for global use. He has also claimed the situation “will never happen again”.

What has he said about China?

Trump has claimed that China is “very happy” with the USA's move.

He also said that China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran.

Is Trump visiting China?

He hinted at a visit to Beijing in a few weeks.

How did he describe US-China ties?

Trump said both countries are “working together smartly, and very well”.

However, he also said that both are good at fighting too if they have to.