President Donald Trump has declared that Iran’s long-standing exploitation of the Strait of Hormuz as a choke point for global Middle Eastern oil shipments is over, and he is mobilizing international support to liberate it.
“Many nations, particularly those impacted by Iran’s efforts to block the Strait of Hormuz, will be dispatching warships, alongside the United States, to ensure the waterway remains open and secure,” Trump stated in a Saturday morning post on Truth Social.
The closure of the strait by Iran has disrupted worldwide oil supplies, leading to higher gasoline prices even in the United States, although the U.S. is a net oil exporter and sources only a small portion of its oil from the Middle East. Trump is urging nations dependent on oil tankers from the strait to share the burden of securing it.
“We have already eliminated 100% of Iran’s military capacity, but it is simple for them to deploy drones, lay mines, or fire short-range missiles along this waterway, regardless of their defeat,” Trump’s post continued. “It is hoped that China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and other nations affected by this manufactured restriction will send vessels to the region so the Strait of Hormuz is no longer threatened by a completely decapitated country.”
Trump pledged a major offensive to eradicate Iran’s capacity to intimidate oil tankers crossing the area.
“Meanwhile, the United States will intensely bombard the coastline and persistently destroy Iranian boats and ships in the water,” he concluded. “By whatever means necessary, we will swiftly achieve an OPEN, SAFE, and FREE Strait of Hormuz!”
In a subsequent Truth Social post five hours later, Trump added that countries reliant on Middle Eastern oil must now also assume responsibility for its security.
“The United States has defeated and utterly devastated Iran militarily, economically, and in all other respects, but the world’s nations that import oil via the Strait of Hormuz must safeguard that passage, and we will provide substantial assistance,” Trump wrote. “The U.S. will also coordinate with these countries to ensure operations are quick, smooth, and successful. This should have been a collaborative endeavor from the start, and now it will be—it will unite the world in pursuit of Harmony, Security, and Lasting Peace!”
None of the mentioned countries immediately signaled agreement. Conversely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that both China and Russia are “strategic partners” aiding in defense against aggression led by the U.S. and Israel.
“This encompasses military collaboration,” he said in a Saturday interview with MS Now. “I will not elaborate on the specifics, but we have good cooperation with these countries politically, economically, and even militarily.”
The United Arab Emirates has characterized Araghchi’s stance as a “confused policy,” as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps insists the strait will stay closed, while the foreign minister indicates all countries except the U.S. or Israel may pass.
“In reality, the Strait of Hormuz is open,” Araghchi said. “It is closed solely to tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those attacking us and their allies. All others may pass freely.”
Takayuki Kobayashi, the policy chief of Japan’s ruling party, informed public broadcaster NHK that “the (legal) threshold is very high.”
Japan’s interpretation of its postwar pacifist constitution allows military deployment only if the nation’s survival is at risk, which would require the government to enact a 2015 security law that has never been used.
South Korea’s presidential office announced it would make a decision on Trump’s appeal following a “careful review.”
Officials stated that France aims to form a coalition to protect the strait once conditions stabilize, while Britain is considering various options with allies to guarantee shipping security.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his assassinated father and is believed by the U.S. and Israel to be injured, has insisted the Strait of Hormuz should stay closed.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth reported the new supreme leader was “disfigured” in the initial attacks that killed his father last month.
“There is no issue with the new supreme leader,” Araghchi told MS Now. “The system is functioning.”
“Everything is under control.”
Reuters contributed to this report.