Trump Urges Allies to Send Warships to Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has warned of further military strikes against Iran’s key oil export hub, Kharg Island, while urging American allies to deploy warships to help secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said additional attacks were possible. “We might hit it a few more times just for fun,” he remarked, signaling a sharp escalation in rhetoric toward Tehran. The comments came despite earlier statements from Washington that US forces were targeting only military facilities on the island.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Tehran appears open to negotiating an end to the conflict. Trump, however, said the conditions for a deal were “not good enough yet,” suggesting the United States is not ready to halt its military campaign.
The remarks also appeared to undermine diplomatic efforts. According to three sources cited by Reuters, the Trump administration previously rejected attempts by several Middle Eastern allies to open negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz poses a major challenge for the United States and its partners. The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas supplies, and fears of disruption have already pushed energy prices higher.
In a social media statement on Saturday, Trump said countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz must help ensure the passage remains secure. He added that the United States would coordinate with those nations so that shipping can continue “quickly, smoothly and safely.”
The conflict, which has now entered its third week, shows little sign of slowing. Iran has rejected any ceasefire until US and Israeli airstrikes stop, while both sides appear to be preparing for a prolonged confrontation across the region.
Recent days have seen continued attacks. A drone strike reportedly disrupted a major energy facility in the United Arab Emirates, while the United States warned its citizens to leave Iraq following a missile attack near the US embassy in Baghdad on Friday night.
The war began after Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Since then, more than 2,000 people have been killed, most of them in Iran, according to government statements and state media reports.
Iranian media, including the semi-official Fars News Agency, reported that at least 15 people were killed in an airstrike on a refrigerator and heater factory in the city of Isfahan.
Iran has also warned civilians in the United Arab Emirates to avoid ports, docks and what it described as “American hideouts,” claiming US forces launched attacks on Iran from those locations. Emirati authorities have rejected accusations that strikes on Kharg Island were launched from their territory.
With both sides maintaining military pressure and diplomatic efforts faltering, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to rise. The situation raises fears of wider regional instability and further disruptions to global energy supplies if the conflict intensifies.
The post Trump Urges Allies to Send Warships to Strait of Hormuz appeared first on Khaama Press.