India, April 2 -- The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a flashpoint again after Donald Trump addressed the nation amid escalating tensions with Iran, making claims about the United States' dependence on the critical oil route.

In his speech, Trump sought to downplay the Strait's importance to the US, stating: "We don't need it. We haven't needed it, and we don't need it."

He added that the US imports "almost no oil" through the passage and suggested it would not rely on it in the future.

A major part of Trump's remarks focused on urging other countries, especially those heavily dependent on Gulf oil, to secure the Strait themselves.

"The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage...