Trump tells allies and other nations to reopen Strait of Hormuz themselves

U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that reopening the Strait of Hormuz – the vital waterway blocked by Iran and causing global oil disruptions – is no longer primarily America’s responsibility.

In his primetime address to the nation on 1 April and in recent statements, Trump declared major U.S. and Israeli military objectives against Iran largely accomplished, while signalling that other countries should step up to secure the strait.

Trump told a war-weary American public that the U.S. has “destroyed Iran’s navy and air force” and severely damaged its missile and nuclear capabilities. However, he offered no detailed exit strategy or timeline for ending the five-week-old conflict, beyond saying the U.S. would finish the job “very fast.”

On the critical issue of the Strait of Hormuz – through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas passes – Trump downplayed America’s role. He suggested the strait would “open up naturally” once the war ends, and explicitly urged other nations affected by the blockade to take action themselves.

In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump wrote:

“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz… 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.”

He singled out countries such as Britain and France, which he accused of providing little support during the conflict, telling them to either buy American oil or secure the strait on their own.

During his 1 April address, Trump reinforced this message, stating the U.S. “doesn’t need” the Hormuz route because America produces more than enough oil domestically. He indicated Washington would not take the lead in physically reopening the waterway.

The comments reflect a broader shift: while the U.S. continues limited operations and has threatened further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure if needed, Trump is increasingly pushing the burden of securing global energy flows onto other nations and allies.

This stance has drawn mixed reactions. Some U.S. allies view it as a sign of American fatigue with prolonged engagements, while energy markets remain volatile amid fears that the strait could stay blocked for weeks or longer.

Trump’s address offered little new ground on unresolved issues such as Iran’s remaining enriched uranium stocks, but his message on Hormuz was unmistakable: the hard part is done – now others must act.

With Reuters

Caption: An information display shows gas prices at a TotalEnergies gas station in Montreuil, in the Paris suburbs, France, 1 April 2026. The price of diesel reached an average of nearly 2.19 euros per liter during the week of 23 March, according to data released by the government 30 March, due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war in the Middle East 28 February. EPA/TERESA SUAREZ