President Donald Trump said there may be alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz that are a lot closer to home.
On Tuesday, Trump floated the idea pipelines in Texas and Alaska could serve as alternatives.
Trump said the Stait of Hormuz is “open if people want to go through it.” Iranian officials have blocked maritime shipping through the region.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked anout shipping tracking data which revealed only 10 vessels passed through the strait on Monday. This is less than 10% of what normally goes through the strait.
“When you say the strait is open, what do you mean?” Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst asked Trump.
“It’s open if people want to go through it,” Trump said. “We’re not opening it for Iran. That’s the only one it’s closed for. It’s closed for Iran both in and out. But it’s open now.”
Trump then mentioned alternatives to the shipping corridor.
“A lot of things have happened, Trey, in the last few months. Pipelines are being built. We’re coming up with great alternatives, including Texas, including Alaska.”
Watch:
https://x.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/2077164856730378676?s=20
He appeared to suggest that the new pipeline infrastructure could reduce reliance on the strait. The strait is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies.