Iran made a significant mistake by attempting to target the U.S. and U.K. base on Diego Garcia with what were believed to be two intermediate-range ballistic missiles. One missile failed in flight, while the other may have been intercepted by the United States.
But the incident highlights why President Donald Trump was legitimately concerned about Iran’s ballistic missile threats prior to launching Operation Epic Fury, especially considering their capability to reach such distances. This miscalculation by Iran only reinforces the perception of them as a threat, both in the past and currently.
Our allies are taking note of the situation, having initially been hesitant to respond when Trump urged them to assist in ensuring secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He applied some pressure, and soon six allies formed a coalition and issued a statement opposing Iran, expressing their commitment to maintaining safety in the Strait. Following a bit more pressure from Trump, the number has now increased to 22 members:
The growing list, which includes NATO members, comes after President Donald Trump ripped NATO for acting like “cowards” Friday. The president said “they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz.”
The joint statement said, “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” and, “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
The statement is attributed to the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,” the statement also said.
More and more nations are aligning against Iran, so that’s good.
At the same time, Iran is undermining its position by stating that the Strait is open to vessels not associated with the U.S., Israel, or those attacking them. They have already allowed Indian vessels to pass through and have now announced that Japanese vessels will also be permitted. These two countries are among the primary shippers operating in the Strait. By allowing them to transit, Iran reduces pressure on the global oil market, which is one of the few leverage points they had. This development comes after Japan had previously agreed to a coalition statement aimed at securing the Strait.
It seems that Trump is making every effort to encourage people to prioritize safety in that area, possibly to avoid risking U.S. assets. With all these developments, it appears increasingly likely that any effective blockade of the Strait will be dismantled.
