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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged the United Kingdom to be active in the Iran war, saying Washington will not help countries to open the strait.
"All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" Trump wrote on social media.
Minutes later, in a separate post, Trump lashed out at France, saying it had been 'very unhelpful' in the US-Israel war on Iran.
"The Country of France wouldn't let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the 'Butcher of Iran, who has been successfully eliminated!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amplified Trump's rebuke at a Pentagon press briefing Tuesday, the first such briefing in 12 days, flanked by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Hegseth pressed allied nations to take on greater responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally flows.
"There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well," he said, adding pointedly: "It's not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well."
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Hegseth also disclosed that he had made a secret trip to U.S. Central Command over the weekend to visit troops deployed in the conflict. While he declined to identify the bases he visited, he said morale was high and declared that the coming days would be pivotal.
"The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there's nothing they can militarily do about it," he said, adding that the United States has "more and more options" as Iran's military capacity depletes. On the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth said the president had been "clear to Iran, open it for business or we have options," while noting that the waterway is "not just a United States of America problem."
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