- US president said he hopes countries including China, France, Japan and South Korea will join the effort to secure the waterway
- Trump claimed that several countries would likely cooperate with the US to ensure the waterway remains open and secure
- Iranian officials responded by warning that any attack on its oil infrastructure would prompt immediate retaliation
Donald Trump has called on the United Kingdom and several other nations to deploy naval vessels to help protect shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil supplies.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the US president said he hopes countries including China, France, Japan and South Korea will join the effort to secure the waterway, which has seen a series of attacks on oil tankers since hostilities escalated between the United States, Israel and Iran roughly two weeks ago.
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Reacting to the proposal, the UK Ministry of Defence said it was consulting with international partners on different measures aimed at protecting maritime traffic in the region.
The situation has become increasingly tense after Tehran indicated it would continue restricting movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic channel handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments, making it one of the most critical energy transit routes globally.
Disruptions to the passage, along with attacks on ships and energy facilities since the conflict began, have already pushed global oil prices sharply higher.
Posting on his social platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that several countries would likely cooperate with the US to ensure the waterway remains open and secure.
He also warned that despite the damage already inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, Tehran could still attempt limited attacks on vessels using drones, mines, or short-range missiles along the shipping corridor.
Trump further suggested that the US would continue military operations along the coastline if necessary to guarantee safe passage through the strait, promising that Washington would ensure the route remains accessible for global trade.
The US president has also warned Iran that its key oil facilities on Kharg Island could become targets if Iranian forces interfere with ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Trump said American forces had destroyed several Iranian military installations on the island during a major bombing raid.
Iranian officials responded by warning that any attack on its oil infrastructure would prompt immediate retaliation against energy assets belonging to companies cooperating with the US.
Meanwhile, maritime authorities including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that more than a dozen vessels have been attacked around the strait since fighting began on February 28.
At present, even the United States Navy has not begun escorting oil tankers through the narrow passage, highlighting the growing security concerns for shipping companies operating in the area.
The appeal from Trump comes amid renewed tensions with the government of Keir Starmer, after the US president previously criticised the British prime minister for hesitating to support early military operations against Iran.
The UK has since strengthened its regional military presence, deploying the HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean and increasing air force operations from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
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