President Donald Trump called on multiple nations Saturday to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, the critical Persian Gulf waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes, after Iran moved to restrict passage through the strait in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli military strikes. In posts on Truth Social, Trump named China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and NATO member states as countries he hoped would contribute naval forces, promising U.S. coordination and threatening that nations failing to assist would face a "very bad future." He also warned that the U.S. would continue striking Iranian shoreline positions and targeting Iranian vessels in the meantime.

The nations Trump addressed have responded with notable caution and, in several cases, have declined to make firm commitments. Japan's foreign ministry said it would not immediately dispatch naval vessels, stating that independent judgment is fundamental to its decision-making. France indicated its ships would remain in a defensive posture in the eastern Mediterranean, while South Korea's presidential office said it would carefully review the request. China's Embassy in Washington called for an immediate cessation of hostilities without directly addressing Trump's proposal, though U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday he expects China to be a "constructive partner" in reopening the strait.

Iran has been striking tankers and other vessels attempting to transit the strait since the conflict began approximately two weeks ago, with at least 10 oil tankers reported hit, targeted or attacked according to data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the International Maritime Organization and Iraqi and Iranian authorities. Tehran has said the waterway remains open to all countries except the United States and its allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said other countries had approached Iran seeking safe passage for their vessels, with India confirming it had negotiated the passage of two Indian-flagged gas tankers on Saturday through diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

Oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel since the conflict began, with an Iranian official warning prices could exceed $200 a barrel if the situation persists. Approximately 1,000 oil tankers are currently unable to transit the strait. Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to keep the waterway closed, while the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy disputed U.S. claims that Iran's military capacity had been destroyed, stating the strait is "under control" rather than militarily blocked.

The calls for a multilateral naval coalition come as the Trump administration faces domestic criticism over what Democratic Senator Chris Murphy described as a lack of a clear plan for reopening the strait. Trump has claimed that 100 percent of Iran's military capability has been destroyed but acknowledged Tehran retains the capacity to deploy drones, mines and short-range missiles in the waterway. Analysts expressed skepticism that China, which continues to receive Iranian oil unimpeded, would commit naval forces alongside the U.S., and no participating nation has announced concrete plans to deploy ships to the region.