US Urges Allies to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Tokyo (ANTARA) - The United States (US), on Tuesday (5/5), again urged Japan, South Korea, and other allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid a new surge in tensions in the Middle East after President Donald Trump’s latest initiative to end Iran’s control over the crucial trade route began this week.
“We hope South Korea will increase its role, just as we hope Japan will increase its role, just as we hope Australia will increase its role, just as we hope Europe will also increase its role,” said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a press conference at the Pentagon.
The US mission, dubbed Project Freedom, began on Monday (4/5) to assist in guiding trapped commercial ships through the narrow shipping lane, which has been effectively closed by Iran since the country was attacked by the US and Israel at the end of February.
However, only two US-flagged merchant ships are known to have successfully crossed the route with military escort under the initiative, which in its early stages triggered an exchange of fire between the US and Iran.
Trump, on Monday, also stated that Iran had fired at a South Korean cargo ship and other unrelated targets.
Both the US and Iran continue to claim control over the vital trade corridor. The day before, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent also urged China to increase its diplomatic efforts with Iran, given that the Asian country has long purchased the majority of Iran’s oil exports.
However, Trump, who is scheduled to visit Beijing next week for a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivered more measured comments on Tuesday.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the war with Iran would be one of the topics discussed with Xi, adding that the Chinese leader has been “very good” on this matter.
“I think he is very respectful. We have not received any challenges from China. They are not challenging us,” he said. “I don’t think he would do that, because of me.”
Hegseth emphasised that Project Freedom is defensive in nature, limited in scope, and temporary, and that the US considers the ceasefire with Iran agreed about a month ago to still be in effect.
The Pentagon chief reiterated Washington’s claim that the shipping lane is more vital to the economies of other countries, and that the US military has worked hard in the region on their behalf.
“This is a temporary mission for us. As I have said before, the world needs this route far more than we do. We are stabilising the situation so that trade can resume, but we hope the world will step up at the right time,” he said.
According to General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who also attended the press conference, around 22,500 sailors on more than 1,550 commercial ships are now stranded in the Persian Gulf and unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Kyodo-OANA