Donald Trump has told “useless” Nato to stay away from the Strait of Hormuz after the UK and France announced they would work to protect shipping “as soon as conditions allow”.
In another explosive rant, the US president, who has been heavily critical of the key alliance, once again accused it of being “useless when needed” and dubbed it a “paper tiger”.
The criticism came after Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron vowed to lead a “multinational mission” aimed at protecting ships passing through the vital waterway, which Iran has now agreed to reopen for the duration of its ceasefire with the US.
“This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance,” the prime minister said at a gathering of world leaders in Paris on Friday.
“We invite all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us. Some have already indicated their readiness to contribute. We will take this forward with a military planning conference in London next week, where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets.”
But the US president hit back soon after the announcement, writing on Truth Social: “Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger! President DJT”
While the talks took place in the French capital, Iran said it has reopened the strait to shipping, in a move welcomed by the US president.
In another post on Truth Social, he thanked the Tehran regime, writing: “Iran has just announced that the Strait of Iran is fully open and ready for full passage! Thank you!” He added that Iran has agreed “to never close the Strait of Hormuz again”.
Iran had effectively closed the key shipping lane, vital to the world’s oil supplies, since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began at the end of February, forcing up energy and fuel prices around the world.
Mr Trump said the waterway was “fully open and ready for full passage” and Iran, with the help of the US “has removed, or is removing, all sea mines”.
But the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain “in full force and effect” until “such time as our transaction with Iran is 100 per cent complete”, he said.
The price of oil fell sharply and stock markets globally rallied higher after the announcement.
Reacting to the news, Sir Keir said: “We welcome the announcement that was made during our meeting, but we need to make sure that that is both lasting and a workable proposal and, if anything, it reinforces the need for the work that we’ve been doing this afternoon, because we’re very clear that the mission that we’re putting together is a defensive mission, and that comes after a ceasefire.”
Mr Macron said: “Recent events are encouraging, even if we have to remain prudent.”
The conflict in the Middle East has strained transatlantic relations, with Mr Trump repeatedly condemning Nato allies for refusing to support his military operations against Iran.
In a separate Truth Social post, the US president said Washington will obtain all of the highly enriched uranium which scientists believe is buried under the rubble after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last summer.
“The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust,’ created by our great B2 Bombers – No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form,” he wrote.
