'10 big boats of oil': Donald Trump reveals mystery gift from Iran

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said Iran allowed the vessels, including some flying Pakistani flags, to cross the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

“They said, to show you we’re real and solid, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil… eight big boats of oil. I guess they were right—they were real. I think they were Pakistani-flagged… It ended up being 10 boats,” Trump said, adding that the two extra boats were sent “to apologize for something they said.”

Earlier this week, Trump had teased the gift, saying it was “a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money… a very significant prize,” but had not revealed details until now.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes, has been a flashpoint in regional tensions. Iran has previously blocked ships it perceives as linked to US and Israeli interests but has been allowing limited passage to others.

According to Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Iran charges vessels for safe passage through the strait—a practice Trump acknowledged, saying, “They shouldn’t be able to, but they’re doing it a little bit.”

Trump also noted that while he had expected oil prices to spike and markets to react sharply, “It hasn’t been nearly as severe as I thought,” suggesting that the delivery of the oil gift had a stabilizing effect.

This revelation comes amid a tense period in US-Iran relations, with both sides navigating sanctions, energy security, and broader Middle East diplomacy.

The “10 boats of oil” serve as both a symbolic gesture and a strategic lever in ongoing negotiations.