President Donald Trump doubled down Monday on his defence of the Strait of Hormuz shutdown, calling it the smartest geopolitical decision in modern history even as petrol prices climbed and US-Iran peace talks showed signs of irreversible breakdown. The comments, made from the Oval Office, drew immediate disbelief from foreign policy experts and allied governments.
It is not the first time Trump has framed the crisis on his own terms. Facing mounting economic pressure at home, the president insists the near-total blockage of the world's most critical oil corridor creates long-term advantages for American energy — a claim the market data has so far failed to support.
