President Trump on Saturday announced that "many countries" will send war ships to patrol theStrait of Hormuzamid the ongoing conflict with Iran, suggesting that its military is still capable of fighting back "no matter how badly defeated they are."
"Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe," Trump wrote onTruth Social. "We have already destroyed 100% of Iran's Military capability, but it's easy for them 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."
He added that "hopefully" China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries "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."
"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water," Trump continued. "One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!"
The Hill reached out to the White House seeking clarificationonwhether the countries Trump listed are those sending war ships to the region.
Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered on Thursday that the strait remain closed as long as the conflict continues. The closure has led to a surge in price increases on several goods, fromfertilizerto oil and gas.Trump, administration officials,GOP lawmakersandthe Pentagonhave all downplayed concerns over rising gas prices.
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Trump his cabinet members has floated the idea of usingescorts through the straitbefore. The administration, however, has hesitated in carrying this out as it would put vessels in direct danger of drone and missile strikes deployed by Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speculated on Thursday that an "international coalition" could escort oil tankers through the strait, something he said would have a "big effect."
Three vessels were struck byunknown projectileson Wednesday, one of which was later claimed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, bringing the total number of attacks on vessels to 19.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. and former Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that a naval escort is "not necessarily a guaranteed success."
"Drones can fly low and slow, they can fly fast and low, and they can do a lot of damage even to one ship with the Navy not being able to knock it out of the sky," he said Thursday on MS NOW's "Morning Joe."
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