As the first ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed, President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed frustration, saying "Korea and Japan didn't help us."
In a phone interview with Fox News on Monday (local time), Trump said, "Japan gets 93% of its oil from there, Korea gets 45% of its oil from there. We have 45,000 and 50,000 troops stationed in each of those two places, respectively. And when we asked for help, they didn't help us."
However, Trump's statement does not match the facts. U.S. Forces Korea numbers approximately 28,500 troops, but Trump has repeatedly cited the incorrect figure of 45,000.
Trump has been consistently critical of major strait-user countries, including Korea. On Sunday (local time), he posted on Truth Social: "We are starting the process of cleaning up the Strait of Hormuz for various countries around the world, including China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, and others." He added, "Amazingly, these countries don't have the courage or willingness to do this themselves."
Will US Reverse Blockade of Hormuz Become Reality?
In a post earlier Monday, Trump said regarding his order to the U.S. Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, "It will take a little while, but it will be implemented soon. It won't take long to clean up the strait."
He also said, "We have minesweepers deployed there. The latest, most advanced underwater minesweepers are now in place, but we're deploying more traditional minesweepers as well. To my knowledge, the UK and several other countries are sending minesweepers."
Trump, referring to the passage of two state-of-the-art U.S. destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz deployed to remove Iranian mines, said, "Nobody did anything to us."
The Wall Street Journal, citing radio communications recorded by civilian ship crew members near the Strait of Hormuz, reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy attempted to block U.S. warships from passing through the strait, but U.S. forces ignored Iran's warnings.
According to the communications, the IRGC Navy repeatedly warned a U.S. destroyer attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, "This is your last warning." The U.S. military responded, "We are transiting in accordance with international law. This is not directed at you, and we will comply with our government's ceasefire regulations."
Meanwhile, Iran has taken a hardline stance against Trump's maritime blockade move. According to Sepah News, an IRGC media outlet, the Revolutionary Guard Navy Command said Monday, "All vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of Iranian military authorities. If the enemies miscalculate even once, the strait will become a deadly vortex that swallows them."
In an era where war has become an easy "option," is the Middle East conflict just beginning?
