United States President, Donald Trump, has urged countries affected by disruptions in oil supplies from the Strait of Hormuz to secure the resource themselves, saying the United States would no longer intervene on their behalf.
Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform, targeting nations he said had refused to support Washington’s military actions against Iran.
In the post, Trump singled out countries like the United Kingdom struggling to access jet fuel because of restrictions around the strategic waterway.
“Countries like the United Kingdom who can’t get jet fuel because of the restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz should build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” he wrote.
The US leader added that nations must begin to defend their interests independently.
“They will have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” he said, referring to countries that “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran.”
Trump also claimed Iran had been severely weakened following recent attacks.
“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done… Go get your own oil!” he wrote.
Trump’s comments came as the average retail price of petrol in the United States surpassed $4 per gallon (about $1 per litre) for the first time in more than three years.
The surge in fuel prices follows escalating conflict in the Gulf region, which has disrupted energy supply routes.
The remarks also came after a night of continued hostilities in the region. Iran reportedly attacked and set ablaze a large Kuwaiti oil tanker off the coast of Dubai overnight, raising fears of a potential oil spill.
However, city officials later said the fire had been extinguished without environmental damage or injuries.
In a separate development, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said it was defending the country against missiles and drones launched by Iran.
Saudi Arabia also reported drone attacks overnight, highlighting the widening impact of the conflict across the Gulf region.
Despite the growing tensions affecting neighbouring countries, Iran’s foreign minister insisted that its attacks were directed at US assets rather than allied states in the region.
He said the strikes were aimed at American targets and not “brotherly” countries in the Gulf.
