Trump Demands Help With Hormuz, Threatens More Kharg Strikes – Yahoo Finance

(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump reiterated his appeals for other nations to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran was nearly obliterated even as the war keeps roiling oil markets and global shipping.

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“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way — some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t. Some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years,” Trump told reporters Monday during a White House event.

The president voiced frustration with nations that have been publicly noncommittal about helping ensure vessels can transit the waterway. Later on Monday he said he had requested China — among those he’s asked for support — to delay a summit with his counterpart Xi Jinping for about a month, saying it was important for him to remain in Washington to oversee the war.

Trump has called out NATO and others, claiming they had leaned on the US for “tens of billions of dollars” in protection, yet failed to act when asked.

Trump’s remarks dovetail with a series of attacks in recent days that indicate neither side is letting up. Asked Monday if the US could end the war this week, Trump responded, “Sure,” but added: “I don’t think so, but it’ll be soon.”

Oil rose after its first decline in almost a week, as Iran stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure around the Persian Gulf. Brent advanced above $103 a barrel, after slipping 2.8% on Monday.

The effective closing of the Strait of Hormuz — a transit point for about a fifth of the world’s oil — has forced the likes of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to reduce oil output further. Still, a trickle of vessels is beginning to find a way through the waterway.

“We’re hammering their capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with more than 30 mine-laying ships destroyed,” Trump said. He added US officials weren’t certain whether Iran has actually laid mines in the strait but warned that it would be “a form of suicide” if they did.

Earlier: Trump Says He Asked China to Delay Xi Summit Due to Iran War

Trump said more than 7,000 targets have been struck and that Iran’s “anti-aircraft is decimated, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone. Other than that, they’re doing quite well.”

The president also threatened to expand strikes on Kharg Island to target oil infrastructure, saying Monday, “We can do that on five minutes’ notice. It’ll be over.” The Persian Gulf island is Iran’s main export hub and was hit by the US late last week.