Dubai, April 1
US President Donald Trump has said it should be up to countries that depend on the Strait of Hormuz to keep the vital shipping route open, arguing there is “no reason” for the United States to shoulder that responsibility alone.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump also voiced frustration with allies he said had failed to do enough to support Washington’s war effort, telling them to “go get your own oil”.
His remarks come as he continues to send mixed signals over the conflict with Iran — at times claiming diplomatic progress is being made, while also threatening to escalate military action.
The economic fallout is already being felt in the United States, where average petrol prices rose above 4 dollars a gallon on Tuesday for the first time since 2022. Analysts say the rise in fuel costs is likely to feed into food prices as transport and packaging expenses increase.
Meanwhile, Israel and the US launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, with attacks reported in Tehran early on Tuesday. Iran, while firing fewer missiles than in the early days of the war, has increasingly relied on low-flying drones that are more difficult to intercept.
The conflict has so far killed more than 3,000 people across the region, while millions have been displaced in Lebanon and Iran.
In Iraq, two officials said a US journalist had been kidnapped on Tuesday, although it remains unclear whether the abduction was linked to the wider conflict.
