US-Iran War: As the conflict involving the United States, Israel Iran entered its 15th day on March 14, US President Donald Trump called on other nations to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe.
Earlier, Trump announced that the US Navy would soon begin escorting tankers through the strategic waterway.
In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, "Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe."
The US President claimed that Iran's military capability was 100 per cent destroyed but acknowledged that it was very easy for Tehran "to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are."
"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated," Trump said.
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Strait Of Hormuz Must Remain Closed As Leverage Against US: Mojtaba
Iran reportedly shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that handles approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day and about 20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas trade, around March 1.
In his first statement since taking office, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said that the strait must remain closed as leverage against the United States, warning that attacks in the neighbouring countries would continue.
His message was read by a news anchor on state television on Thursday. He did not appear on camera. Mojtaba also warned that US military bases in the region could be targeted if they remain active.
"I recommend that they close those bases as soon as possible, because they must have realised by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie," he said.