MIDDLE EAST
Trump Urges Allies to Send Warships to Strait of Hormuz as Iran Threatens Retaliation
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on international allies to deploy naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, as Tehran warns of retaliation and tensions escalate across the Middle East.
2 min read
By Aurax Radio — Updated March 15, 2026
File photo: An Oil Tanker passes through the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions in the Middle East intensified over the weekend as Donald Trump urged international partners to send warships to protect shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors. The call came after U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, a key hub for the country’s energy exports.
Trump said the strikes had “obliterated” military targets on the island but indicated that Iran’s oil infrastructure had largely been left intact. Kharg Island handles the majority of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it strategically important to both Iran’s economy and global energy markets.
A ship on fire in the gulf.
Following the attacks, Iranian officials warned that further U.S. strikes could trigger stronger retaliation. Tehran has also signaled that energy infrastructure linked to U.S. interests in the Gulf could be targeted if the conflict escalates further.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a narrow maritime passage through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments normally passes. Shipping in the area has already been disrupted by attacks on vessels and rising military activity since the conflict intensified earlier this year.
Trump has appealed to countries including Britain, France, Japan, South Korea, and China to help secure the waterway and ensure that commercial ships can move safely through the region. The proposal reflects growing international concern that further escalation could disrupt global energy supplies and trade routes.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions remain limited, with both sides maintaining strong rhetoric and military readiness. Iran has warned that the conflict could expand if its territory or critical infrastructure is targeted again, raising fears of broader instability across the Gulf region.
Sources: Reuters, AP News, The Guardian, Seattle Times
Iranian military forces during a missile exercise as tensions escalate in the Gulf region.