Washington: Amid escalating tensions in the Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that massive numbers of empty oil tankers are heading toward the United States to load high-quality crude, signalling confidence in American energy dominance even as the war continues to disrupt global markets.

"Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and 'sweetest' oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World. We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround! President DJT," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His remarks come at a time when geopolitical tensions in the region remain high despite a fragile ceasefire.

On the diplomatic front, the United States and Iran are engaging separately with Pakistan in a bid to de-escalate the conflict. A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf held talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday, according to official sources.

However, there has been no announcement of direct talks between Washington and Tehran so far.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its military operations in Lebanon, further straining ceasefire efforts. Iranian officials have reportedly linked progress in negotiations to a halt in Israeli strikes. Lebanon’s state-run news agency said Israeli attacks on Saturday killed at least three people.

The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy human and economic toll. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.

The war has also severely disrupted activity in the Persian Gulf, a critical hub for global energy supplies, sending oil prices soaring and damaging infrastructure across multiple countries.