Trump Claims Countries Will Help Secure Strait Of Hormuz Despite Allies’ Refusal
President Trump said Monday that “numerous countries have told me they’re on the way” to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway near Iran where roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil flows.
ASKING FOR HELP: Over the weekend, Trump urged seven nations — including the U.K., China, France, Japan, and South Korea — to help secure the shipping route. So far, none have said publicly that they will help.
“Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t, and some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years,” Trump said Monday, without naming any of the nations. At the same time, he said that he wants to see stronger “enthusiasm” from countries to send warships and help fully reopen the key waterway.
His comments come as the U.S. looks for ways to move oil through the Strait and bring down rising gas prices for Americans. On Monday, U.S. gas prices hit about $3.72 per gallon, according to the AAA — up from $2.93 a month ago. The price of international crude oil was above $100 per barrel on Monday, up nearly 40% since the war began Feb. 28.
WHY THE STRAIT MATTERS
The threat of Iranian strikes on boats or mines in the waterway has all but stopped vehicles carrying oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz. Several vessels have been attacked by Iran in recent weeks, though multiple safely navigated through the Strait this weekend. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC Monday that the U.S. is letting Indian and Iranian tankers through “to supply the rest of the world.”
IRAN: The new supreme leader claimed Thursday that the Strait is effectively closed during the ongoing conflict, though other regime officials have since said the passage remains open to most international shipping — except vessels tied to the U.S., Israel, and their allies.
THE IMPACT: Bessent said about 10-14% of global supply has been affected by the war — lower than the 20% that usually passes through the Strait — because Saudi Arabia and the UAE “have diverted production to the Red Sea.” The U.S. has also lifted some sanctions on Russian oil exports.
The U.S. does not directly rely on oil going through the Strait — most of it goes to China and Asian countries — but oil is traded on a global market, and crude oil prices have risen dramatically across the board.
WHAT ELSE TO KNOW
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