Trump urges Japan and other countries to send warships to reopen Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Japan and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after Iran threatened escalation across the Middle East to retaliate for Washington’s bombing of its main Gulf island energy hub.

Tehran’s ability to stop shipping through the strait, a major channel for oil and gas shipping, could give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.

“The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” Trump wrote in a social media post. “The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well.”