US President Donald Trump has said countries around the world must reimburse Washington for the costs associated with its actions once the war with Iran is over.
In a post, Trump also said oil was continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, although Reuters data showed that traffic through the strategic waterway remained significantly below pre-war levels.
Trump gives no details on compensation
Trump justified his demand by saying the United States does more for other countries than it does for its own interests, adding that he believed this situation had continued for generations.
However, he did not specify which countries would be expected to provide compensation, how much they would have to pay or how such payments would be made.
The statement therefore remains a political demand, with no specified international financial mechanism attached to it.
In July, Trump had already raised the possibility of charging ships for safe passage through the strait and imposing a levy on cargo.
The International Maritime Organisation has said international law does not provide grounds for a state to unilaterally impose charges, duties or discriminatory conditions on transit through international straits.
Hormuz traffic remains far below pre-war levels
According to Reuters, four cargo ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, while another 10 travelled in the opposite direction.
That was below the average of about 14 ships a day recorded over the previous 10 days.
Before the war began, around 125 ships passed through the route each day.
The Strait of Hormuz accounted for approximately one-fifth of global shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
The IMO has reported that vessels are attempting to navigate the route without reliable safety guarantees. The organisation is promoting a voluntary, temporary mechanism to facilitate the safe passage of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf region.
Alternative oil route also disrupted
A drone attack has temporarily halted operations on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which transports oil to the Red Sea and provides an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Associated Press, citing two regional officials, reported that a significant section of the pipeline could remain out of service for weeks.
The Saudi Arabian and UAE bypass pipelines have limited capacity and cannot fully replace maritime transit.
At the same time, supplies through the Red Sea also depend on security in the area around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The risks affecting two maritime regions, together with damage to alternative infrastructure, have left the oil market sensitive to developments involving shipping safety and the volume of energy supplies.
