new york times is at the center of attention in a fast-moving dispute over the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said “many countries” would dispatch warships to keep the passage “open and safe, ” even as Iran signaled it is restricting access during the war. Trump did not provide details on which states had agreed to participate, while Iranian officials rejected US claims and described the strait as under control rather than militarily closed.
What Happens When New York Times becomes a symbol of a coalition call?
In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump said nations, “especially those affected by Iran’s attempted closure” of the Strait of Hormuz, would be sending warships “in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe. ” He named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom among those he hoped would contribute, but he did not identify which governments had committed to sending vessels.
Trump’s comments came as the waterway remains effectively closed on the 15th day of the US and Israel’s war on Iran. The strait carries a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, amplifying the stakes of any disruption and intensifying international focus on maritime security and access.
Trump also asserted that the US had “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, ” while conceding that Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile” along the waterway. He pledged that the US would be “bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water, ” while promising to get the strait “OPEN, SAFE, and FREE. ”
What If Iran’s leaders keep the strait “under control” rather than fully closed?
Iranian officials offered a different description of the situation. Alireza Tangsiri, the navy chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said, “The Strait of Hormuz has not yet been militarily closed and is merely under control. ” In a post on X, he pushed back on Trump’s statements and said, “Americans falsely claimed the destruction of Iran’s navy. Then they falsely claimed the escorting of oil tankers. Now they’re even asking others for backup forces. ”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that the strait was only closed to “tankers and ships of enemies and their allies, ” not all shipping. Separately, Mohsen Rezaee, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, said, “No American ship has the right to enter the Gulf. ”
Despite the tension, some shipping has continued under exemptions and negotiated clearances. Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas crossed the strait safely on Saturday morning, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Tehran had granted Indian vessels a rare exemption following direct talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday.
A Turkish-owned vessel was similarly allowed through earlier in the week after Ankara negotiated passage directly with Tehran, with 14 more Turkish vessels still awaiting clearance.
What Happens Next as the US reinforces its posture and weighs coordination?
Trump later framed the effort as a shared responsibility, writing in a follow-up Truth Social post that, “The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” He added that the US would “coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well, ” calling it a “team effort. ”
At the same time, the administration’s posture has included caution around direct escorts. Last week, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US was not ready to do escorts for ships through the strait itself.
US military movements in the region are also continuing. The US is reinforcing its presence, with some 2, 500 Marines and the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship en route to the Middle East following a request by CENTCOM approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Kimberly Halkett, reporting from the White House, said Iran’s most powerful remaining weapon was not military but economic, adding that the threat of damage alone to US ships is a key factor shaping the moment.
