Global Naval Coalition Gathers in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Tensions Escalate
US President urges countries to send warships to secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions with Iran over maritime blockades.
Washington - In a move to bolster regional security, US President Donald Trump has called for a global naval coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz amid growing tensions with Iran. The strategic waterway has become a flashpoint, with Tehran warning it will close the strait to "tankers and ships of enemies" during the ongoing geopolitical standoff.
Trump's appeal for international cooperation comes as the US seeks to build a coalition to protect commercial shipping in the region. "Many countries want to send their naval ships," the president told reporters at the White House, though he did not specify which nations have pledged to participate.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global choke point, with around 20% of the world's oil supply passing through the narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Iran has repeatedly threatened to disrupt shipping in the strait, a move that could have severe economic and geopolitical consequences.
"The Strait of Hormuz is closed to tankers and ships of enemies in case of a war," warned Alireza Tangsiri, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, in a statement carried by Iranian media.
The tensions come amid a broader standoff between Iran and the US and its allies, sparked by the Trump administration's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the reimposition of crippling economic sanctions on Tehran. Iran has responded by exceeding limits on its nuclear activities and threatening to disrupt regional oil shipments.
Despite the rising tensions, Trump has maintained that he does not want a war with Iran. However, the deployment of additional US military assets to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier strike group and Patriot missile batteries, has raised concerns about the potential for miscalculation and unintended conflict.
As the international community grapples with the crisis, the security of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical priority. Trump's call for a global naval coalition to patrol the strategic waterway is a bid to mitigate the risks of a potential Iranian blockade or confrontation with US and allied forces.
Source: Al Jazeera
