On Saturday, two additional nations expressed their strong disapproval of Iran’s partial blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, further isolating the country as it attempts to maximize economic pressure by delaying oil shipments.
Australia and the United Arab Emirates, which has also faced missile attacks from Iran, have joined the coalition, raising the total number of signatory countries to 22.
The countries that have signed so far include Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned on Thursday that she had apprised Trump about the limits of her country’s military involvement, referencing Japan’s constitutional restrictions on warfare.
President Trump acknowledged their efforts at the White House, although he expressed frustration that allies were not contributing enough to share the responsibilities.
He tweeted late Friday that while the strait “needs to be guarded and policed, if necessary, by other countries that use the strait, but not the United States!”
Defense analysts noted that providing naval escorts for protection would necessitate the deployment of destroyers. Following Iran’s initial threats against U.S., Israeli, and allied vessels, ships registered in China, India, Turkey, and Pakistan have continued to navigate through the crucial passage.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran is also reportedly preparing to allow Japanese vessels to navigate through the strait.
Iran’s official stance, as communicated to Japan’s Kyodo News, is that the strait remains open, specifically asserting that it is only closed to vessels from countries they consider adversaries.
In the meantime, a total of 22 nations issued a joint statement condemning Tehran for its recent actions against “unarmed” ships.
They condemned “in the strongest terms” Iran’s recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf and on civilian oil and gas infrastructures, highlighting the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
The joint statement also indicated a willingness to contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage through the strait and welcomed countries working on preparedness plans, albeit without detailing how that support would look.
Halting oil exports from the Gulf region could significantly impact the global market, potentially removing nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, with around 80 percent destined for Asia, according to a recent report from the Dallas Fed.
