Washington/ Tehran, Mar 21 (UNI) As the war entered its fourth week, the Donald Trump administration moved to calm volatile global markets by granting Iran a temporary licence to sell around 140 million barrels of crude oil, even as fighting intensified and spread across new regions.
The waiver, issued late Friday, allows Tehran to offload oil stored on tankers, equivalent to roughly a day and a half of global demand, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The decision will ease supply concerns triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
One one side, Trump signalled deescalation by hinting at wrapping up military operations against Iran. Trump claimed on Saturday that the United States is ‘getting very close’ to meeting objectives of ‘winding down’ military efforts in the Middle East.
He said US is ‘completely degrading’ Iranian missile capability, launchers, and everything else pertaining to them and destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base.
The objectives of eliminating Iran’s Navy and Air Force, including anti-aircraft weaponry, never allowing Iran to get even close to nuclear capability, and always being in a position where the US can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place, are also being achieved, he said on his social media platform.
He highlighted US had also got very close to protecting, at the highest level, Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.
Pointing to a possible role of US in the future management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, he said the Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it.
‘The United States does not use it but If asked, will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts,’ he added.
He, however, said it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.
At the same time, thousands of additional US Marines and naval personnel are being deployed to the region, underscoring continued military preparedness.
Tensions remain elevated across the Gulf, where several countries have intercepted incoming missiles and drones in recent days.
Iran also launched a strike at a joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. According to US officials, Tehran launched intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the facility, located nearly 4,000 km from its coast, but the attack failed, with one missile falling short and another intercepted.
Bahrain has become the first regional country to signal willingness to support efforts to reopen the passage of the Strait of Hormuz, joining European nations, Japan and Canada. However, no country has yet made firm commitments to deploy naval assets, even as Washington urges allies to contribute warships and minesweepers to secure the route.
Iran has issued fresh warnings to regional rivals, including the United Arab Emirates, saying it could target the port city of Ras al-Khaimah if Iranian-held islands in the Gulf come under further attack. Meanwhile, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missile and drone strikes overnight, highlighting the persistent threat across the region.
With the Israeli military reporting fresh missile launches from Iran towards its territory, Tel Aviv carried out strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut.
