President Donald Trump reiterated his call for five countries, including South Korea, to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. He specifically targeted South Korea, China, and Japan, emphasizing their oil dependency while reminding them of U.S. security support, applying significant pressure.
Before a Trump-Kennedy Center board luncheon at the White House, Trump told reporters that it gets less than 1% of our oil from the Strait of Hormuz, but other countries are obtaining much larger amounts. He elaborated that Japan imports 95%, China 90%, and several European countries account for significant portions. South Korea relies on about 35%.
Trump expressed hope that these nations would assist in defending the Strait, claiming that several countries have told him they’re coming to the Strait of Hormuz.
He noted that some are very enthusiastic, but countries they’ve long supported and protected haven’t shown much enthusiasm. The level of enthusiasm matters to him.
Without naming specific countries, Trump mentioned that it has 45,000 great troops protecting some countries from danger, despite previously misstating the number of U.S. troops in South Korea, which is actually around 28,000.
He challenged that they’ve protected you for 40 years, and now you’re saying you don’t want to get involved in a minor issue, especially when they (Iran) are low on ammunition and actual combat is unlikely?
Earlier, on March 14, Trump publicly requested that South Korea, Japan, China, the UK, and France dispatch warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
He emphasized ongoing U.S. military operations, stating that today, it struck three missile and drone manufacturing facilities.
Trump claimed that since the Iran conflict began, the U.S. has targeted over 7,000 sites in Iran, primarily commercial and military facilities.
He added that they’re thoroughly neutralizing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. They’ve destroyed over 30 mine-laying vessels, striking every one they identified.
Trump cautioned that it can’t confirm if mines have been deployed, but if they do, it would essentially be a suicide mission.
He claimed to have predicted Osama bin Laden’s attack on the World Trade Center a year before it happened and stated he also anticipated Iran would weaponize the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked which countries he referred to regarding assistance in the Strait, Trump responded that it’s premature to say. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others will make the announcement.
He added that some countries have already begun moving, while others are in the arrival process. There are participants from relatively nearby, but it’ll soon finalize and announce the details.
Trump also claimed to have spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed willingness to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Regarding the UK, he expressed dissatisfaction, stating that he requested naval support two weeks ago but received a lukewarm response. He remarked that sending an aircraft carrier after the conflict ends is too late but added that he believes the UK will get involved.
When asked about discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Strait of Hormuz security cooperation, Trump replied that China is a good example. They get 91% of their oil from the Strait of Hormuz, and they’ve been protecting that for years.
Questioned about Iran’s willingness to negotiate and U.S. demands, he said that he doesn’t know if they’re ready yet. It doesn’t even know who their leader is.
Trump stated that as far as it knows, all their leaders are dead. They’ve eliminated the first group, and the second group has also been removed.
He continued that then the third group gathered, but he thinks they might be uneasy about meeting now. They’ve made contact with the next group, but it still doesn’t know who their leader is.
Regarding Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump noted that many say he’s been severely injured. There are rumors he’s lost a leg and is in critical condition, while others claim he’s dead.
He addedthat no one says he’s 100% healthy. Previous leaders often appeared in public, but this one hasn’t shown himself at all.
Trump remarked that it doesn’t even know if he’s dead or alive. No one has seen him, which is unusual.
When asked about David Sacks’ warning that the U.S. should declare victory and withdraw, and that Israel might consider using nuclear weapons, Trump replied, yes, but Israel won’t do that.
On immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz, he said that it can, but it takes two to tango. Shipowners and the shipping industry must feel secure. Trump explained that they might not have laid mines, but the possibility alone deters billion-dollar vessels from entering. Today, they’re launching a major assault in an area closely related to the Strait.
Asked if the U.S. is resuming its role as world police, Trump replied that the U.S. shouldn’t get too involved, but I’ve been asking for years why the world’s wealthiest countries don’t reimburse us for maintaining the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump expressed skepticism about potential internal opposition to the Iranian regime, stating that Iran warned they’d shoot protesters on sight. Snipers targeted hundreds of thousands of female protesters. They’re violent and reportedly killed at least 32,000 people two weeks ago.
Regarding the timeline for ending U.S. military operations, he said that some say even if we beat them thoroughly and leave, rebuilding will take a decade. It wants this to end. He aims to prevent future presidents from facing the same issues.
He added that a former president once said that he wishes he had done that back then, but he won’t name names. He doesn’t want to embarrass him.
Trump predicted rapid oil price drops post-conflict, stating tha once this ends, oil prices will fall very quickly, and inflation will follow. It can’t allow the most violent and evil country of the past 50 years to acquire nuclear weapons.
He noted Iran’s capability to target Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait, claiming that they’ve eliminated most of their thousands of missiles, drones, and production facilities.
Regarding Israel potentially expanding its ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, Trump stated that Hezbollah is a significant problem and is being rapidly eliminated.