US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) called on nations to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping as Iranian forces continue their retaliation campaign amid US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!"
"The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well," he added.
About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the strait, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman. Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel could give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.
In an earlier post on Saturday, Trump said that "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," adding that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would send ships to the area.
"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water," he wrote.
Trump said on Thursday the US was willing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz to protect them from Iranian attack, as his administration searches for ways to ease high oil prices fuelled by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Meanwhile, Western nations have increased their military presence in the eastern Mediterranean during the conflict in Iran. The deployments have focused on the security of Cyprus after an Iranian-made drone hit a British military base on the island on March 2.
Britain is also exploring additional options for deployments to the Gulf after Iran stepped up attacks on vessels, defence minister John Healey said on Thursday. The British government is talking to allies and partners about "a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Saturday.
The French Navy is deploying about a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz as part of defensive support to allies threatened by the conflict.
France has also been consulting with European, Asian and Gulf Arab states over the past week with a view to putting together a plan for warships eventually to escort tankers through the strait, French officials said.
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