SATISH SHARMA - not just Rotigraphy.: BREAKING NEWS: U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump is furious with NATO—as the Straits of Hormuz re-open, but only for Chinese, Indian and Pakistani ships.

https://x.com/NuryVittachi/status/2034102321043673168

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump is furious with NATO—as the Straits of Hormuz re-open, but only for Chinese, Indian and Pakistani ships. “I have never heard him so angry in my life,” Senator Lindsay Graham posted on X a few hours ago. Also a few hours ago, Trump ordered US armed forces to drop heavy bombs on the coast of Iran to destroy reinforced missile launchpads—but the Iranians have been using mobile launchpads to avoid this specific action. . HORMUZ IS OPEN The Strait of Hormuz is open for the world’s ships to pass through, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, told reporters last night at a press conference in Tehran. “It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies,” he said. Analysts around the world, including in the west, agree that the US-Israel attack was illegal. “From March 1 to March 15, a total of 11 China-linked vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz,” reported Lloyds List, a shipping data center. But then traffic dropped to zero and is now very gradually rising again. Turkey is also in talks with Iranian authorities to ensure that they are on the safe list. Iran has also said it will favor ships doing business in yuan instead of the US dollar. . TRUMP VOWS VENGEANCE Trump, meanwhile is planning vengeance on the Europeans, Graham said. “The repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America,” he said, reporting Trump’s threats. US allies are stuck. Japan, South Korea, the U.K., France and Italy are still hoping the US Navy can strong-arm access for them. They "are largely coordinating with the U.S. and exploring naval escort options rather than negotiating directly with Tehran," says a note to investors by JP Morgan analysts. . 'AFFILIATION CHECKPOINT' Vessel trackers note that some vessels can be seen moving between Larak and Qeshm, two Iranian islands. "This is not a standard route for vessels and could reflect a process designed to confirm vessel ownership and cargo, enabling passage for ships that are not affiliated to the U.S. or its allies," the JP Morgan analysts said. . REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT With their brutal and sustained bombing attacks on Iran, Trump and Netanyahu have achieved something remarkable: they have turned the Iranians into heroes, undoing years of demonization.

1:59 PM · Mar 18, 2026