President Donald Trump said early Tuesday that he had a 'very good conversation' with a person named Burnham, during which they discussed clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to Israeli news outlet ynet.
President Donald Trump stated early Tuesday that he had a 'very good conversation' with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during which they discussed clearing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Israeli news outlet ynet. The remark adds detail to the phone call between the two leaders that took place Monday evening, hours after Burnham's appointment.
The Zioneer reported Monday evening that Trump and Burnham spoke hours after Burnham was appointed (Mon 17:37 Jerusalem). Later that evening, the UK PM's office said Burnham emphasized the UK's commitment to securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and expressed hope to host Trump in Manchester (Mon 17:37 Jerusalem). A subsequent version noted Burnham stressed his 'commitment to defence' during the call (Mon 17:37 Jerusalem). The latest report from ynet now specifies that the mine-clearing effort was discussed, adding a concrete dimension to the previously general statements.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, has been a focal point of US-Iran tensions. Trump previously stated the waterway is open (The Zioneer, Jul 12). The US has reported ongoing talks with Iran (The Zioneer, Jun 9) and technical discussions in Doha described as 'very good' (The Zioneer, Jul 1). The Zioneer has also reported on Trump's direct talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the Gulf (Jul 8).
No further details on the scope of the mine-clearing operation or the identity of the specific 'Burnham' referred to in the ynet report (though the thread confirms it is the UK PM) were provided. It remains unclear whether the discussion included any coordination with Israel or other partners, or whether the effort is part of a broader US-led operation.
3 developments
- StrongTrump says Strait of Hormuz is open, declines to elaborate out of respect for Lindsey Graham
- StrongTrump says tankers are sailing out of Strait of Hormuz, contradicting Iranian reports
- StrongTrump: Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open, with or without Iran
- DevelopingTrump: Strong US leadership is the only way to keep the Strait of Hormuz open
Source and signal
- Internal intake