President Donald Trump said in a prime-time address Wednesday that the United States does not rely on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and urged other countries to take the lead in securing the vital shipping route.
Iran closed the strait — a key global energy shipping route — after U.S. and Israeli strikes one month ago, disrupting oil shipments and contributing to rising fuel prices worldwide.
"This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict," Trump said in his address from the White House, which aired live on Newsmax and simulcast on the Newsmax2 online streaming platform.
He added that the situation underscores why Iran "can never be trusted with nuclear weapons."
Trump argued the United States is well positioned to withstand the disruption, pointing to domestic energy production and broader economic strength.
"The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future," he said. "We don't need it. We haven't needed it, and we don't need it."
He emphasized that the U.S. is a leading energy producer, saying the country produces more oil and gas than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined.
Trump called on countries that depend heavily on the strait — particularly in Europe and Asia — to take greater responsibility for protecting it.
"They must grab it and cherish it," he said. "We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on."
He also urged allies to increase their engagement in the conflict.
"I have a suggestion: Number one, buy oil from the United States of America," Trump said. "And number two: Build up some delayed courage ... go to the strait and just take it."
Trump said he expects the strait to reopen once the conflict subsides and predicted that fuel prices will fall as stability returns.
"With Iran being essentially decimated, the hard part is done, so it should be easy," he said.
The president did not repeat earlier criticism of NATO in the address, though some European allies — including France, Italy, and Spain — have resisted U.S. requests for military involvement, arguing the alliance is focused on collective defense rather than operations in the Persian Gulf.
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Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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