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President Trump’s visit to China in 2017 was the last time a sitting US president set foot over there. REUTERS
“As commander in chief, it’s his number one priority right now to ensure the continued success of this operation, Epic Fury. So we will keep you updated on the dates soon.”
Since the war began Feb. 28, Iran has been working to inflict economic pain on the US and alienate its allies by blocking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which more than a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil flows annually.
Attacks by Iran on tankers and other vessels have sent oil prices spiking as high as $106 per barrel earlier Monday.
To counter that, the Trump administration has announced plans to release some 172 million barrels of oil from US strategic reserves, part of a broader effort by 32 countries to release 400 million barrels of oil.
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