TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump says Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments before any peace deal can be reached.
Speaking at a Saudi-backed investment forum in Miami, Trump even referred to the vital waterway as the "Strait of Trump."
"They have to open up the Strait of Trump. I mean, Hormuz," Trump said. He added, "Excuse me ... I'm so sorry — such a terrible mistake."
The "fake news" will say he accidentally said 'Strait of Trump' he added, "no, there’s no accidents with me. Not too many."
He said discussions are under way to end the monthlong conflict.
He told the forum it would be "great" to reach a deal, but only if Iran fully opens the strait.
Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Friday that the US was hopeful there would be meetings with Iran this week.
"We think there will be meetings this week. We're certainly hopeful for it," Witkoff said at an investment forum in Miami, Florida.
"We have a 15-point deal on the table that the Iranians have had for a bit of time. We expect an answer from them, and it would solve it all," he added.
Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, had been engaged in indirect diplomatic talks with Iranian officials two days before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran nearly a month ago.
US troops reportedly wounded in strike on Saudi air base
Earlier, several US troops were wounded in a strike on a Saudi air base, a source told the Associated Press on Friday.
Several planes were also damaged in what is believed to have been an Iranian airstrike.
The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the Prince Sultan Air Base was hit, causing casualties. There was no immediate comment from the US military.
Read: Iranian Media: 350 Ships Await Iranian Permit in Strait of Hormuz
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
