The U.S. president said he hoped major powers with a stake in global energy flows would join the effort.
President Donald Trump said on March 14 that some countries affected by Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are joining the United States in patrolling the strategic oil-shipping waterway.
While the U.S. strikes over the past weeks have sharply reduced Iran’s fighting force, the president wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday that Tehran still retained the ability to threaten ships passing through the strait with smaller weapons.
“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” he wrote.
Trump did not identify which governments are participating, but said he hoped other major economies with a stake in global energy flows would join the effort.
“Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated,” Trump wrote.
In the meantime, Trump said, U.S. forces would continue targeting what remained of Iran’s naval capabilities and striking sites along the coastline.
Iran has demonstrated ability to use its shoreline and nearby waters to launch attacks with small boats, drones, mines, shore-based missiles, mobile artillery, and submarines against commercial shipping in the narrow passage.
“One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE,” Trump said.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
By Bill Pan
