00:00John.
00:01John, go ahead.
00:02The Press Thanks a lot, Caroline.
00:03Two questions for you.
00:04One has to do with a statement, a joint statement put out this morning by some of America's
00:09European allies, our NATO allies.
00:11And in that joint statement, they said regarding the Strait of Hormuz, our governments will
00:16contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
00:21What's the administration's reaction to that joint statement?
00:24Does that smooth things over when the President meets with NATO Secretary General a little
00:29bit later this afternoon?
00:30Ms. I have a direct quote from the President of the United States on NATO, and I will share
00:34it with all of you.
00:34They were tested and they failed.
00:37And I would add, it's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over
00:40the course of the last six weeks, when it's the American people who have been defunding
00:44their defense.
00:45As you know, President Trump will be meeting with Secretary Ruta in a couple of hours here
00:49at the White House, and I know he looks forward to having a very frank and candid conversation
00:53with him.
00:54And then secondly, in regards to this conflict, 38 days, as you pointed out, President Trump
01:00has said that there's been regime change.
01:02Has that regime change led to more freedoms for the Iranian people?
01:07Ms. I think that's a question that's being asked a little bit too early, John.
01:11And we hope that is the case.
01:13But it's something that has yet to be seen.
01:18The Press, on this question of tolling by the Iranians in the Strait of Hormuz, I've
01:23heard you talk about a number of red lines that the President has in this negotiation,
01:26but I haven't heard you say that Iranian tolling in the Strait of Hormuz is a red line.
01:31Would it be acceptable to the United States at the end of all this if the Iranians are
01:36able to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz?
01:38Ms. I think the President was very clear and simplistic in his language last night in
01:43in his Truth Social post, where he said that this ceasefire is subject to the free, safe,
01:48and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
01:51That's very plain language, and it should be taken at face value.
01:54Does Iran mean free of charge?
01:56MS.
01:56Carrie, go ahead.
01:57Without limitation, including tolls.
01:59Yes.
01:59Carrie.
02:00A quick follow-up on the atonement.
02:01Why would the U.S. allow Iran to collect tolls from the Strait of Hormuz?
02:06That's not something that we've opposed for a number of years now.
02:09MS.
02:09Again, that's not something we've said that we've definitively accepted.
02:13The joint venture is something that was proposed by the president, but he was very clear in
02:18his statement last night.
02:18He wants to see the Strait reopened immediately without limitation, and that's something we're
02:23going to hold them to.
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