Iran-US war latest: Trump hits out at Nato ‘cowards’ and claims opening Strait of Hormuz would be ‘so easy’ – UK Times

US president Donald Trump has called Nato “cowards” in a bid to encourage their support in his bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He said: “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices.

“So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

China called for an end to the war in the Middle East on Friday, warning of the impact on global energy, shipping and trade, with the near three-week conflict showing no sign of slowing.

“History and reality have repeatedly shown the world that force is not the solution to problems and armed conflict will only breed new hatred,” Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said when asked whether Beijing had a message for Muslim communities as they mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The “still widening war” in the Middle East harms the common interests of all countries, Lin said, repeating Beijing’s position that all sides in the Gulf conflict should cease fighting and that energy flows from the region should be unimpeded.

Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tankers are preparing to sail through the Strait of Hormuz in coming days after a pause in voyages with no crude oil tankers leaving the waterway in the past 24 hours, according to shipping data and sources.

The two tankers were currently anchored in Gulf waters, according to data from Kpler and shipping sources.

According to market assessments from sources on Friday, based on available data, there had been no voyages over the past 24 hours by crude tankers through the waterway, with one empty crude oil tanker, hit with US sanctions, returning through the Strait back towards Iranian waters on 18 March, separate Kpler data showed.

Nato has begun withdrawing personnel from Iraq due to regional tensions and conflict, a senior security source told Iraq’s state news agency on Friday.

The source added that the Nato mission is non-combat and advisory, and will return once the war ends and security in Iraq stabilises.

President Donald Trump assailed Nato allies on Friday over their lack of support for the US-Israel war against Iran, calling the longtime US allies “cowards”.

“Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump said in a social media post. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”

France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not see an obvious end ⁠to the conflict in the Middle East in the short-term, but that France and its allies would ⁠continue to ​work ⁠towards trying to find a lasting solution.

“There is no ⁠obvious short-term way out of ​the ⁠ongoing regional escalation, ‌which has in some ways been unfolding since October 7, 2023. ‌But this must in ‌no way serve as a pretext for inaction,” Barrot told reporters after meeting with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar in Tel Aviv.

After visiting Lebanon on Thursday, Barrot said he had outlined Paris’ reservations about a possible Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon, but said the Lebanese army had to do everything possible to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah as demanded by the Lebanese government.

As Iran marks Nowruz, the Persian new year, the country remains in its longest internet blackout.

The country has been under an internet shutdown for 21 days, according to NetBlocks.

“With international connectivity cut and domestic service limited, many families are unable to contact loved ones when it’s most needed.”