Two more nations signed on to a letter Saturday strongly condemning Iran’s partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – isolating the Islamic Republic diplomatically as it seeks to apply maximum economic pressure by bottling up oil shipments.
The two latest to join are Australia and the United Arab Emirates – one of Iran’s Gulf neighbors who has been bombarded with missile attacks from Tehran – bringing the total to 22 countries.
Earlier signatories were the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan, whose Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters Thursday that she informed President Trump what her country “can do and cannot do,” citing war limits outlined in Japan’s constitution. Earlier signatories were the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan, whose Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters Thursday that she informed President Trump what her country “can do and cannot do,” citing war limits outlined in Japan’s constitution.
They are really stepping up to the plate,” Trump said at the White House, despite his on and off fury that allies weren’t sharing more of the burden.
Later Friday, he posted that the Strait “will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!”
Defense experts said naval escorts to protect shipping would require the use of destroyers. Following Iran’s initial threats to US, Israeli and allied ships, vessels flagged to China, India, Turkey and Pakistan have continued to trickle through the crucial corridor.
Iran was also preparing to allow Japanese ships to pass through the strait, Al Jazeera reported.
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