Trump says countries receiving oil through Strait of Hormuz must secure passage, US will help

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that countries receiving oil through the Strait of Hormuz should take responsibility for securing the key maritime passage, adding that the US would assist them.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said nations dependent on oil shipments through the strategic waterway must ensure the safety of the route.

“Countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT,” Trump wrote.

He added that the US would coordinate with those countries to ensure efforts move forward “quickly, smoothly, and well.”

Trump also suggested that securing the vital energy corridor should have been a collective responsibility from the outset.

“This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be," he said.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since March 1, following the launch of joint attacks by Israel and the US against Iran on Feb. 28, which have so far killed more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hostilities have since escalated.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.