BICOM

US President Donald Trump has described recent events in the Gulf of Oman as “very minor”.

In an interview with Time Magazine Trump appeared to contradict recent statements by his Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. Trump said he was prepared to take military action to stop Tehran from having a nuclear bomb, but left open the question of whether he would sanction the use of force to protect Gulf oil supplies.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed Trump’s remarks about protecting oil tankers while on a visit to US Central Command HQ in Florida. Pompeo said shipping security in the Gulf was not exclusively a US problem: “You have China that depends enormously on energy transiting the Strait of Hormuz. You have South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, all of whom have an enormous interest in ensuring there’s freedom of navigation throughout this waterway.”

Pompeo added that the US is “engaged in many messages, even this moment right here, communicating to Iran that we are there to deter aggression”. Pompeo travelled to Florida to meet with commanders responsible for US operations in the Gulf and ensure that US military and diplomatic efforts are coordinated.

Pompeo said the US is”in the position to do the right thing … to continue to work to convince the Islamic Republic of Iran that we are serious and to deter them from further aggression in the region”. Pompeo stressed that: “President Trump does not want war and we will continue to communicate that message while doing the things that are necessary to protect American interests in the region.”

Chinese State councillor Wang Yi yesterday urged restraint in the Middle East saying the US risked “opening Pandora’s box” and advised the US to “alter its extreme pressure methods” while also  calling on Iran not to abandon the nuclear deal.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that Iran did not intend to “wage war against any nation”. Rouhani added that: “Those facing us are a group of politicians with little experience. Despite all of the Americans’ efforts in the region and their desire to cut off our ties with all of the world and their desire to keep Iran secluded, they have been unsuccessful.” His speech followed the US Department of Defence announcement yesterday that an additional 1,000 military personnel will be deployed to the Middle East.