Trump calls on allies to send warships to Strait of Hormuz amid Iran crisis

2026-03-15 - 07:42

US President Donald Trump has announced that countries impacted by the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz will contribute warships to a multinational coalition led by the United States. In a statement released on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump explicitly urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to send naval assets to ensure the vital waterway remains "open and safe." The president's message contained stark threats against Iran, which has effectively controlled access through the strait since the beginning of March. Trump declared that while the US has neutralized "100% of Iran’s military capability," he warned of severe retaliatory actions. "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," he stated, signaling an aggressive posture in response to any Iranian disruption. Conflict Escalates Following February Strikes The current crisis traces back to February 28, when joint attacks by Israel and the United States targeted Iranian territory. The operation resulted in the death of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 1,200 others. In response, Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, a critical chokepoint through which a substantial portion of the world's oil supplies transit. Türkiye continues to monitor the escalating situation closely as Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states hosting American military assets. These counterattacks have reportedly caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, broadening the scope of the conflict beyond the immediate belligerents. Trump Dismisses Attack Reports In his social media statements, Trump also addressed claims regarding US military assets in the region. He pushed back against reports suggesting that five American refueling aircraft had been struck and rendered inoperable at an airport in Saudi Arabia, dismissing the accounts as "fake news." According to the president, "Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service," attempting to reassure allies of the continued operational capacity of US forces in the region despite ongoing hostilities.