President Trump said countries impacted by the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz will be sending ships to join promised US escorts to keep the critical waterway open.
“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday.
The US, who along with Israel has been hammering Iranian targets, had destroyed “100% of Iran’s military capability,” he said, a day after announcing withering strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island.
“But it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are,” Trump said, referencing Iran’s threat to close the Strait.
The president mentioned China – the top purchaser of Iranian oil – as well as leading economies France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
He said hopefully they will send ships so the Strait “will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.”
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”
On Wednesday, members of the G7 top economic powers held a virtual meeting for the first time since the outbreak of the war.
At that event, French President Emmanuel Macron, the current G7 chair, said his country would contribute in the effort “to coordinate several navies in order to escort vessels at the appropriate time and ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Macron said that conditions “are not currently in place,” and said the coordination work would take several weeks.
Escorts could prove vital given Iran’s threats and ability to strike oil shipping that flows through the narrow strait using drones, missiles, and mines.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC this week it was too soon to provide the escorts.
“It’ll happen relatively soon but it can’t happen now,” he said. “We’re simply not ready. All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.”
