WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump says he is in talks with roughly seven countries about helping the United States secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor for global oil supplies, as the war in the Middle East continues.
Speaking aboard Air Force One Sunday night, Trump said the effort would involve “policing” the narrow waterway, which around 20% of the world’s oil passes through. He described the mission as relatively limited in scope but warned that NATO could face serious consequences if allies fail to assist.
“It will be interesting to see which countries help,” Trump said, telling the Financial Times that it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if partners decline to participate.
A NATO official said allies are already working to increase security efforts in the region and are discussing additional steps with the United States and other partners.
“We are aware that individual allies are talking with the U.S. and others on what more they might do, including in the context of security in the Strait of Hormuz,” the official said.
NATO has already stepped up security presence in parts of the Mediterranean as the conflict continues to escalate.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the United Kingdom is working with partners on a plan to ensure oil is safely shipped through the strait, with Starmer emphasizing the effort would not be conducted as a NATO operation.
He also said that the UK’s first priority is to protect “our people in the region,” and the UK will be working on a resolution to stop the Iranian threat.
Starmer said he spoke with Trump on the phone earlier on Sunday night about the issue and described their relationship as strong.
“We are strong allies; have been for decades,” Starmer said, adding that any decisions about the UK’s involvement would ultimately be guided by the country’s national interests.
Starmer said that he is working to combat the cost of living for UK citizens by having the government introduce energy caps, but ultimately, the best approach to bring down rising costs from the war with Iran would be to de-escalate tensions.
On Monday, a drone hit a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic, causing a large fire.
Firefighters contained the blaze, and there were no injuries reported, but the airport suspended all flights before resuming them a few hours later.
Later, a person was killed in the capital of the United Arab Emirates when an Iranian missile hit a vehicle, the Abu Dhabi media office said. Fire also broke out at an oil facility in Fujairah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, following a drone attack.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it intercepted a wave of 35 Iranian drones sent to its eastern region, home to major oil installations.
Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones toward countries in the region hosting U.S. military assets since the war began.
At the same time, Israel says it continues to target Iranian military infrastructure.
The Israeli military reported destroying an aircraft overnight at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport that it said had been used by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
Israeli officials say the aircraft had previously been used to coordinate weapons procurement and communication with allied countries.
Missile launch sites inside Iran remain a primary focus of Israeli operations, with one Israeli assessment suggesting around 70% of Iran’s launch systems have now been destroyed or rendered unusable.
China also weighed in after Trump suggested a potential summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping could be delayed if Beijing does not help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits,” Trump told the Financial Times. “We may delay,” he said of this planned visit.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, said diplomatic communication between the two countries remains ongoing and called for an immediate halt to military operations.
“China reiterates its call for all parties to immediately cease military operations,” Lin said during a press conference when asked about Trump’s remarks, adding that Beijing is committed to promoting de-escalation.
Chinese and U.S. officials are meeting in Paris this week to discuss the potential trade agreement between Trump and Xi during their summit in Beijing, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng leading the delegations.
The war in Iran has sent the price of oil skyrocketing, which has raised the price Americans pay at the pump. Trump and his administration have been forced to consider new options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran says the strait is cut off for ships connected to the United States, Israel and their allies.
“From our perspective, it is open,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of the strait. “It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”
As the war with Iran continues into its third week, world leaders are closely watching whether multinational efforts to secure the strait will move forward — or whether tensions escalate further.
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.
National Headline
