Trump calls on all countries to "take back" the Strait of Hormuz on their own, saying the United States "will no longer provide assistance".

The competition around the Strait of Hormuz has become the central focus of the global energy market. U.S. President Trump's latest statement calling on countries to "take back" the strategic waterway on their own shows his dissatisfaction with allies' involvement and also highlights a signal that the U.S. may adjust its intervention approach. Trump stated on social media on Tuesday that countries unable to access oil supplies should "go to the strait and directly control it," and stated that the U.S. "will no longer provide assistance." This statement is seen as a possible indication of reducing direct military involvement and instead pressuring allies. Meanwhile, the conflict has escalated further. Iran has continued to launch missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, including hitting the Kuwaiti oil tanker "Al-Salmi" full of crude oil, one of the most serious blows to shipping since the U.S. military action against Iran. Iran also fired missiles at the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Despite the escalating military conflict, international oil prices have remained relatively stable in the short term. The price of U.S. WTI crude oil is around $104 per barrel. This performance is partly attributed to market expectations that Trump may be more inclined to use diplomatic pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz rather than escalate military action further. U.S. Defense Secretary Hagser said negotiations with Iran to end the war are "making progress," but also stressed that the U.S. will maintain military pressure to compel an agreement. However, divisions between the U.S. and its traditional allies are emerging. Trump openly criticized the UK and France for not providing enough support, while NATO countries as a whole are cautious about direct involvement. It is reported that Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. military aircraft, while Italy has refused landing for U.S. military aircraft. In the energy market, tensions are already transmitting to the real economy. U.S. gasoline prices have risen to over $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022, adding extra pressure to the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections. There is widespread concern in the market that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a long time, oil prices will further surge. Energy consulting firm FGE NexantECA expects that if the strait remains closed for the next 6 to 8 weeks, oil prices could rise to $200 per barrel. On the policy front, Trump's attitude is fluctuating. On one hand, he says an agreement is close, while on the other hand, he threatens to expand the range of strikes, including targeting Iran's energy infrastructure and even desalination facilities. He had previously set April 6 as the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait. Iran denies that negotiations are making progress and rejects the U.S. proposal, which includes war reparations, recognition of its control of shipping in the strait, and a guarantee that the U.S. will not launch attacks. Analysts point out that the Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas transportation, and its obstruction has already impacted the supply of key commodities such as energy and fertilizers, posing stagflation risks to the global economy. The latest United Nations study shows that this conflict may cause economic losses in the Middle East to approach $200 billion.