Strait of Hormuz should be guarded by other nations, not U.S., says Trump

President Donald Trump on Friday (March 20, 2026) said the U.S. was “very close” to achieving its objectives and was considering winding down the Iran war, adding that policing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime checkpoint that remains effectively shut, is the responsibility of other nations.

“We consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East… (1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability… (5) Protecting… our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post about what he considers the U.S. achievements are.

Iran-Israel war updates on March 20, 2026

The U.S. and Israel have carried out thousands of air strikes in Iran since they started the war on February 28 in which at least 1,400 people were killed, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani. Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S.-Israeli strikes have destroyed Iran’s military capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 19 Iran was “being decimated” and that the U.S. and Israel were “winning”.

Despite the claims by Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu, Iran has consistently carried out missile and drone attacks at Israel and America’s Persian Gulf Arab allies. It has also taken control of the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before the war. The attacks on oil facilities in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait have driven up oil, gas and fertilizer prices. Brent crude closed at $106 a barrel on Friday, up from $72 on February 28, the first day of the war.

“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them,” Mr. Trump said, signalling that regional countries should lead the military operation to open the Strait.

Mr. Trump had earlier sought help from America’s NATO allies as well as China to open the Hormuz Strait. As most countries rejected Mr. Trump’s call, he said the U.S. did not want the anybody’s help. But again, on March 20, he called NATO partners “cowards” because they did not send any assistance.

On Friday (March 20), the U.S. Treasury Department removed sanctions on Iranian oil at sea for month, in a bid to stabilise oil prices. The Treasury had announced a similar decision about the Russian oil at sea last week.