US President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his rhetoric on Iran sending a "straight" message to "non-responsive" allies for refusing to support Washington's ongoing military operations against Tehran.
Trump claimed that the United States does not need the Strait or the so called "Straight," a key global oil shipping route and suggested it could "let the countries that use it" find their own solution.
Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!"
In another post the US president said, "Remember, for all of those absolute 'fools' out there, Iran is considered, by everyone, to be the number one state sponsor of terror. We are rapidly putting them out of business!"
His remarks come amid growing strain between the United States and its allies over the ongoing conflict with Iran and the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global energy supplies.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump had asserted that the US does not require assistance from its allies, declaring that it is "by far the most powerful country anywhere in the world and they do not need the help of anyone!" He also said several Nato allies had declined to participate in the US-led military campaign.
"The United States has been informed by most of our Nato ‘allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon," he wrote on Truth Social.
"Because of the fact that we have had such military success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the Nato Countries’ assistance, we never did! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the world, we do not need the help of anyone!" he added.
Trump’s comments follow his call earlier this week urging allies, Nato to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supplies.
"We strongly encourage the other nations to get involved with us and get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm," he said at a White House event on Monday.
However, key allies have shown reluctance to join any military operation. Canada said it had not been consulted on the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the conflict and would not participate in offensive action.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK was working with partners on a "viable" plan to reopen the strait but ruled out a NATO-led mission, while Germany maintained that the conflict was "not a matter for Nato."
Other countries, including Japan, Australia, Poland, Spain, Greece and Sweden, have also distanced themselves from potential involvement. European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels, similarly showed "no appetite" to expand their naval operations to the Gulf.
The diplomatic standoff comes as global oil prices have surged by 40–50% following Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and waves of missile and drone strikes across the region, in retaliation for the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.