U.S. President Donald Trump has called on several countries to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz as global oil prices continue to rise following its closure amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In a message posted on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump urged nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to deploy naval forces to secure the busy shipping lane and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels.
Despite the appeal, none of the countries mentioned immediately confirmed plans to send warships to the region.
In Japan, ruling party policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi said such a move would be difficult under the country’s current legal framework. Speaking to NHK, he explained that Japan’s constitution limits the deployment of military forces abroad unless the country’s survival is at risk.
The Japanese constitution, introduced after World War II, prohibits the country from engaging in overseas combat operations except in situations directly threatening national security. Although a security law passed in 2015 expanded the scope for limited overseas missions, it has not been applied in this case.
Trump’s call comes as France and the United Kingdom are also consulting with allies on ways to guarantee security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
Meanwhile, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei recently told the Iranian public that the strait would remain closed as a strategic response to attacks by its enemies.The strait has become a major pressure point in the confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Normally, about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway.
Since the strait was closed on February 28, 2026, global oil prices have surged sharply, with a barrel rising to around $120 compared with the $60 to $70 range recorded before the conflict began.
Iranian authorities have previously indicated that the conflict may eventually end due to its economic consequences but insisted the country is prepared for a prolonged confrontation.