Among them is China... Trump urges other countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz
The US president wrote on his Truth Social platform that “several countries will send warships, in cooperation with the United States, to keep the strait open and safe.”.
Trump announced on Friday that the US Navy would “very soon” begin escorting oil tankers through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Pressure on Washington
Tehran is targeting the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for Israeli and US strikes, aiming to disrupt its passage. This strategy is designed to damage the global economy and exert further pressure on Washington as oil prices continue to rise.
Trump added, “We have destroyed 100 percent of Iran’s military capabilities, but it’s easy for them to send in one or two drones, plant a mine, or launch a short-range missile somewhere along or within the waterway.”
He continued, “We hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and other countries will send ships to the region so that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer threatened by a headless state.”
The US president indicated that, “pending” this, the United States will continue to bombard Iran’s coast and target its navy, stating, “One way or another, we will soon open the Strait of Hormuz.”
Two ships bound for India
In this context, the Indian Minister of Shipping announced on Saturday that two Indian-flagged ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had transited the Strait of Hormuz and were en route to ports in western India, a development made possible by diplomatic efforts.
Iran had disrupted a significant portion of shipping traffic through this vital waterway since the start of the US-Israeli war against it two weeks prior.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Secretary General of the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, told a press conference in New Delhi that the two vessels "passed through the Strait of Hormuz safely early this morning and are heading towards India."
He explained that the two ships, the Shifalik and the Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of LPG, were expected to arrive at the ports of Mundra and Kandla within two days.
