April 11 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that many empty tanker ships are currently on their way to the United States to pick up oil and gas for other countries.

“A large number of completely empty oil tankers, some of the biggest in the world, are heading to the United States to load the finest and “sweetest” oil and gas available,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

This announcement coincided with discussions between senior U.S. and Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday, where Pakistani intermediaries facilitated talks about the ongoing conflict that began on February 28 following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to Iranian forces retaliating against nearby nations.

Earlier this week, Trump suggested that Iran should not charge tolls to tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This strait has largely been closed to shipping since the conflict began, creating significant disruptions in global energy supplies.

Since the war began and the strait's closure, crude oil futures have surged. Currently, U.S. oil CLc1 is priced higher than the global benchmark, Brent LCOc1. On Friday, U.S. crude oil closed at $96.57 per barrel, while Brent was at $95.20.

Jake Dollarhide, CEO of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma, noted that while he cannot confirm if empty tankers are heading to the U.S. for oil, the ongoing closure of Hormuz could increase demand for U.S. oil.