Washington DC, March 26 -- US President Donald Trump said that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a "present" to the United States amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington as the conflict continues in West Asia, calling it a significant goodwill gesture.

Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting in the White House on Thursday, Trump said the US had engaged in "very substantial talks" with Iranian officials amid the conflict and described the tanker movement as proof of seriousness in the discussions.

"They said, 'To show you the fact that we're real and solid and we're there, we're going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil," Trump said, adding that ...