Trump says "many countries" will send warships to Hormuz Strait

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday on social media that "many countries" would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, without offering any details.

"Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He added that "the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!"

The U.S. president told reporters on Friday that his country's Navy will soon start escorting tankers through the strait. "It'll happen soon, very soon," he said.

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route carrying one-fifth of oil consumed globally, and pledged to open new fronts in his country's conflict with the United States and Israel.

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said Thursday that "the current situation in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, is ... the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security." ■