Washington, Mar 31 (EFE).- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged allies affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to «take» control of the strategic waterway, as he signaled that Washington aims to conclude the bulk of its military operations in the Middle East following the war with Iran.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the offensive launched on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel, disrupting global oil and fuel supplies.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that countries affected by the closure, including the United Kingdom, should either purchase oil from the United States or secure the maritime route themselves.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the strait, and just TAKE it,» Trump said.
He warned that affected countries over not supporting the US-led offensive against Iran.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.”
Trump also suggested that reopening the strategic waterway is not a US priority, noting that the United States is less dependent on Middle Eastern crude.
«Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil,» Trump wrote.
Pressure on Allies
Trump’s remarks were widely interpreted as a warning to NATO allies and Asian partners, increasingly affected by disruptions to oil, liquefied natural gas, and other key raw materials from the region.
The US president has criticized NATO members for refusing to support military operations related to Iran, singling out Spain and France for declining to allow overflights for aircraft involved in the campaign.
The White House said Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not a primary objective of the offensive against Iran, which instead focuses on degrading Tehran’s naval, missile, and nuclear capabilities.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s message on Tuesday, saying countries that depend on the waterway should take responsibility for securing it.
Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Hegseth said maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has increased following warnings from Trump to Tehran, but stressed that safeguarding the route cannot remain solely a US responsibility.
“There are many more vessels flowing through today than there were,» Hegseth said, adding that the president has been «clear to Iran, ‘open it for business or we have options,’ and we certainly do.»
He added that countries reliant on crude shipments through the strait must also “show their faces” and be prepared to contribute to maintaining freedom of navigation.
“There are countries around the world that ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well.”
Oil Prices Rise
Meanwhile, the average gasoline price in the United States surpassed $4 per gallon (3.78 liters) on Tuesday for the first time since August 2022, driven by global supply concerns linked to the conflict.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CNN that fuel prices would fall again once the conflict ends.
“When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions,” Leavitt said. EFE
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