Former President Donald Trump said he “strongly encourage[s]” other countries to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with Iran and growing threats to commercial shipping. In statements aired by NBC, Trump urged European and Asian partners to play a larger role in keeping the vital waterway open, calling for multinational efforts rather than leaving the burden solely to the United States.
Trump reiterated that the U.S. will remain engaged in the region “as long as it takes,” and claimed Iran has been “militarily defeated,” while also noting that Tehran has shown interest in talks but that “the terms aren’t good enough yet.” The comments come amid recent U.S. military actions targeting Iranian oil infrastructure and ongoing incidents that have disrupted shipping and contributed to rising fuel costs.
Administration officials and analysts have described diplomatic “off-ramps” presented to the president as options to de-escalate conflict with Iran, but Trump’s public appeal emphasizes burden-sharing with allies to protect maritime commerce and deter further attacks. He framed broader allied involvement as both a practical and political step to stabilize global energy markets and reduce the risk of a wider confrontation in the Gulf.