U.S. president Donald Trump urged nations struggling with fuel shortages to secure oil in the Strait of Hormuz by themselves.
In a Truth Social post stressing that the United States would no longer provide assistance to former allies, Trump wrote that countries “that refused to get involved” should
build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!
Trump’s stance was echoed by U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who emphasized that the strait is an international waterway but not primarily America’s responsibility. He noted that while the U.S. has prepared extensively to keep the passage open, other countries must share the burden. Hegseth also refused to rule out potential U.S. ground involvement in the ongoing conflict in Iran, describing the coming days as “decisive.”
Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa urged Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call to stop attacks on regional neighbours and engage with diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. European Council chief Costa posted on X:
To de-escalate the situation, I urged Iran to stop the unacceptable attacks on countries in the region and to engage positively on the diplomatic track, notably with the UN to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
