Strait of Hormuz Security: US Appeal for Allies Goes Unanswered
As the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran enters its third week, disrupting global oil supplies and raising fears of inflation, a call by US President Donald Trump for allied warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz has largely been rejected. The strategic waterway, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows , remains a focal point of international concern.
Nato Declines Direct Involvement
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have both indicated their nations will not participate in a Nato-led mission to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer stated his government is working with allies on a viable plan to reopen the waterway, but emphasized it would not be framed as a Nato operation. Merz echoed this sentiment, citing a lack of mandate from the United Nations, the European Union, or Nato itself. He also noted that Germany was not consulted by the US or Israel prior to the commencement of their military campaign .
Trump’s Assertions and Coalition Efforts
Despite the rebuffs, Trump has maintained a firm stance, threatening a “very bad” future for Nato if member states fail to assist in securing passage through the Strait. He claimed that several countries have agreed to deploy assets, while acknowledging a lack of enthusiasm from others. Trump questioned why nations benefiting from US protection for 40 years would hesitate to contribute to what he termed a “very minor” issue .
The US President also stated that US forces have targeted 7,000 targets and sunk over 100 ships, characterizing the actions as long overdue .
Iran’s Position and Continued Conflict
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but only to those not involved in “unjust aggression” against Iran and its allies. Fighting continued on the 17th day of the war, with the US and Israel conducting strikes on targets across Iran, and Tehran responding with rocket and drone attacks against Israel and Arab Gulf states .
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the destruction of a “space-related compound” in Tehran, alleging it was used for developing capabilities to threaten satellites. Araghchi stated that Iran has not sought a ceasefire or engaged in direct communication with the US, and accused some neighboring states hosting US forces of encouraging attacks on Iranian civilians. He claimed that 200 children were among the hundreds of Iranian civilians killed in bombings .
Escalation in Lebanon
The conflict between Israel and Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, has significantly escalated, with Israel launching a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon “to remove threats and protect residents of the Galilee.” Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, stated that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese Shia residents would not be permitted to return to south Lebanon until the safety of northern Israelis is guaranteed. He drew parallels to the actions taken against Hamas in Gaza .
Over 880 people in Lebanon have been killed, and more than 800,000 have been displaced, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Twelve people in Israel have died as a result of attacks from Iran and Hezbollah since the start of the war.
Israeli Public Opinion
A recent survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute revealed that a majority of Israelis (72%) believe the decision to attack Iran was correct. Support is particularly strong among Jewish Israelis (85%), while opinions are more divided among Arab Israelis. However, the war has not yet resulted in a shift in public support for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his coalition .