US president Donald Trump. (Photo from Al Jazeera)
By Tracy Cabrera
Global Powers Urged to Escort Oil Tankers Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
MANILA — President Donald Trump is calling on key international partners, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, to dispatch naval vessels to protect oil shipments navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint in the Middle East.
International media said the appeal comes amid heightened tensions following missile strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. In response, Tehran has effectively restricted passage through the strait, warning that any foreign vessel not flying China’s flag could face attack.
The closure has sent shockwaves through global markets. Crude oil prices surged 40 to 50 percent this week, reaching approximately $100 per barrel, as governments moved to release strategic reserves to prevent supply disruptions.
Israel has signaled its ongoing military readiness, stating it continues to “identify new targets every day” in Iran and maintains “thousands of targets” within the country.
While Trump indicated that U.S. officials are in discussions with Tehran, he expressed skepticism about Iran’s willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict. Iranian authorities, for their part, have previously denied any direct talks with Washington.
Trump justified his request for international naval escorts by emphasizing that nations benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz share a responsibility to safeguard its passage. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he said.
iamigo/xf
