US President Donald Trump said the US Navy was “acting like pirates” while speaking about the seizure of Iranian vessels during the ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a rally in Florida on Friday, Trump said US forces had taken control of ships carrying Iranian cargo.
“We took control of the ship after landing on top of it. We seized control of the oil and the cargo,” Trump said. “It’s a very profitable business. We resemble pirates. Although we're not playing games, we resemble pirates in several ways,” he added.
The remarks come as tensions continue in the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy chokepoint through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass.
The conflict has disrupted shipping in the region and contributed to rising global oil prices.
According to the report, the United States has seized some Iranian vessels after they departed Iranian ports, including sanctioned cargo ships and Iranian tankers operating in Asian waters.
Iran has reportedly blocked most ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began. In response, Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait on April 13.
Talks aimed at ending the hostilities are currently being mediated by Pakistan.
The current conflict escalated after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran later retaliated with attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.
The violence has reportedly displaced millions of people and caused thousands of deaths due to Israeli strikes in Lebanon and joint US-Israeli bombings in Iran.