Trump makes bizarre claim Iran gifts 20 ships of oil as ‘respect’ amid US troop buildup
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Amid fortifying US troops in the Middle East, apparently for a possible ground operation in Iran as the war entered its third week, and Iran’s repeated rejection of surrender to the conditions laid out by the US, President Donald Trump claimed Iran was sending 20 large oil-laden ships to the US as a “sign of respect”, while praising Iran’s new leadership as “reasonable” while Pakistan said it was preparing to host talks aimed at ending the conflict.
Trump’s claims came amid the US deployment of 10,000 additional combat troops for a potential ground invasion, while he asserted that Washington’s goal of regime change had effectively materialised with the assassination of Ayatullah Khamenei, and that the new leadership, which he described as reasonable, had agreed to most of the 15 points conveyed through Pakistan’s mediation, with the oil shipment presented as a token intended to validate its sincerity.
Trump’s rhetoric of reconciliation stands in stark contrast to his boasts of total military annihilation. He claimed U.S. forces have already neutralised 158 Iranian vessels, effectively erasing their Navy, while crippling their Air Force and degrading their missile infrastructure to "sputtering" remnants.
"We’re having very good meetings, both directly and indirectly," Trump stated, adding that the purported oil deliveries follow an initial "gift" of ten boatloads. He further muddied the political waters by suggesting the son of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei might remain alive but "seriously wounded," asserting that the current interlocutors represent a "group we’ve never dealt with before."
The atmosphere in Tehran remains decidedly more bellicose. Rejecting the notion of surrender, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued a grim admonition, stating that Iranian forces "are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire." Qalibaf insisted that Iran’s missile batteries remain poised and their resolve hardened against Washington’s "humiliating" demands.
The 15-point proposal remains the crux of the deadlock. Washington demands the total surrender of enriched uranium, the dismantling of regional proxy networks, and the permanent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
While Trump insists the "new group" is yielding, official Iranian rhetoric suggests a nation prepared for a protracted defence. As Pakistan manoeuvres to host emergency peace talks, the world watches to see if this "crude" diplomacy can avert a total regional conflagration.