United States President Donald Trump has intensified calls for international support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, revealing that his administration is in discussions with seven nations about deploying warships to secure the critical waterway. The strait, which carries roughly 20% of the world's oil supply, has been largely shut to tanker traffic since the outbreak of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Coalition of the willing takes shape
Trump disclosed over the weekend that he expects numerous countries to commit naval vessels to ensure safe passage through the narrow channel, though he stopped short of naming the seven governments already in talks with Washington. In a social media post, the US president indicated he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain would be among those contributing to the effort.
The American leader sharpened his rhetoric towards European partners in particular, cautioning NATO members during a Financial Times interview that the alliance faces a "very bad" future should they decline to assist Washington. Plans are reportedly under way to announce a formal multi-nation escort coalition as early as this week, though discussions continue over whether joint operations would commence before or after hostilities cease.
"It's the place from which they get their energy."
Trump offered limited detail on the precise military contributions he sought from partner nations, noting only that some possess minesweepers and "a certain type of boat that could help us". He confirmed on Friday that the US Navy would "soon" begin escorting oil tankers through the strait, a move that would mark a significant escalation of the international naval presence in the region.
Tehran defiant as Washington predicts swift conclusion
While Trump acknowledged that Washington remains in contact with Tehran, he expressed scepticism about Iran's willingness to engage in meaningful peace talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi firmly rejected any suggestion that his country was seeking a ceasefire or negotiations.
"We have never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiations. We are ready to defend ourselves for as long as it takes."
Araqchi sought to project confidence and resolve despite successive waves of American and Israeli air strikes that have claimed the lives of several Iranian leaders, destroyed much of the Islamic Republic's naval fleet and severely degraded its missile capabilities. He maintained that Iran saw no reason to enter discussions with the Americans, noting that Tehran had been engaged in diplomacy when Washington launched its attack.
US administration officials, meanwhile, projected optimism about a rapid resolution to the conflict, now entering its third week. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that hostilities would "certainly come to the end in the next few weeks — could be sooner than that". Trump echoed this sentiment, predicting oil prices would "come tumbling down" once the fighting concludes, though he declined to set a specific timeline and said he was not prepared to declare victory.
"If we left right now, it would take them 10 years or more to rebuild, but I'm still not declaring it over."
The conflict has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with Brent crude trading at $103.27 a barrel and US crude at $97.99 as Asian markets opened cautiously on Monday. Trump's weekend warning of further strikes on Iran's principal oil export facility at Kharg Island — and his inflammatory remark that the US "may hit it a few more times just for fun" — dealt a blow to diplomatic efforts and marked a notable escalation from previous assurances that only military targets were being struck. The war, which began on 28 February with a joint US-Israeli bombing campaign hitting thousands of targets across Iran, has claimed more than 2 000 lives, predominantly in Iran and Lebanon, while severely disrupting global air transport.
