U.S. President Donald Trump is urging other countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iran targets ships in the vital oil route, but so far there are few firm commitments.

In a social media post Saturday, Trump suggested that many countries were already prepared to send naval vessels to keep the waterway open. He named China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom as countries that could “hopefully” deploy ships to help ensure freedom of navigation.

“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 on Truth Social, describing the move as a shared responsibility for nations that depend on oil flowing through the narrow shipping channel.

With global air transport heavily disrupted and no clear end in sight, Iran’s ability to choke off traffic through the strait between Iran and Oman, which is the conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, has emerged with increasing urgency as a decisive threat to the global economy.

The conflict has halted most shipping through the passage and helped drive oil prices above $100 US a barrel. 

But in a follow-up post hours later, Trump’s tone shifted. He said countries that receive oil through the strait “must take care of that passage,” adding that the U.S. would help co-ordinate the effort.

The call effectively amounted to a public appeal for allies — and even geopolitical rivals like China — to contribute naval forces to a mission that could involve escorting tankers, clearing mines or deterring attacks on commercial shipping.

So far, the countries Trump mentioned have responded cautiously.

Britain says it is discussing possible options with allies, including sending naval ships or mine-hunting drones, but has not committed to deploying forces.

Japan has also stopped short of promising military support. Analysts told The Financial Times that any deployment could face legal and political hurdles because of the country’s pacifist constitution, which limits its ability to participate in combat operations abroad.

France has previously signalled interest in escort missions for commercial shipping, but officials have framed those efforts as defensive and contingent on the security situation.

China and South Korea have not announced any plans to send warships.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC he has been “in dialogue” with some of the countries, without naming them, and said he expected China “will be a constructive partner” in reopening the strait.

A difficult request

Trump’s request comes despite strained relations with some allies over the conflict. The U.S. president has publicly criticized Britain’s stance earlier in the war, saying the once-close relationship was “not like it used to be.”

The appeal is also notable because Trump has repeatedly said U.S. and Israeli strikes have largely defeated Iran’s military capabilities — even as the disruption to shipping in the strait has persisted.

For allies weighing the request, the calculation is complicated: protecting the flow of oil through the strait is in their economic interest, but deploying naval forces could risk drawing them deeper into a widening regional war.

While Iran claims it has not effectively shut down the strait, its attacks using inexpensive and lightweight weapons have spooked many shipping companies and could deal blows to allies’ precious naval forces.

Trump himself underlined the conundrum the U.S., Israel and oil-seeking allies face: despite asserting the U.S. had “already destroyed 100 per cent of Iran’s military capability,” he also said Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile” along the waterway.

The Financial Times reported that European Union foreign ministers would discuss widening the European Union’s regional Aspides naval mission, a maritime security mission launched in 2024 to protect commercial shipping against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and nearby waters.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi told his French counterpart that countries must refrain from anything that could escalate the conflict. He also said Iran would respond to any attack on its energy facilities.

Araghchi told CBS that Tehran has been “approached by a number of countries” seeking safe passage for their vessels, “and this is up to our military to decide.” He said a group of vessels from “different countries” had been allowed to pass, without providing details.

Saturday, Tehran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali confirmed that Iran has allowed some Indian vessels to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. He was speaking on broadcaster India Today’s conclave in New Delhi.