US President Donald Trump has called on countries that buy oil from the Middle East to forcefully open the Strait of Hormuz unless Iran reopens the vital shipping lane to all ships.

He made the appeal in his first address to the nation on Wednesday, after weeks of chastising NATO members for refusing to send warships to the region and joining the US and Israel in their war effort.

“For those countries that can’t get oil, most of which refuse to be involved in the beheading of Iran … build up some belated courage, go to the Straits and take it. Protect it.” Trump said. He argued that securing the strait would be easy, saying the US had “decreased” “much reduced” its drone and missile capabilities.

In his speech, Trump vowed to intensify airstrikes over the next two to three weeks, suggesting the war would continue if Iran refused to give in to his demands.

The US-Israel war against Iran has created a global energy crisis that Washington has struggled to contain, sending oil prices soaring and pushing fuel costs higher for consumers around the world. The conflict has effectively choked flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply.

Global crude prices have risen above $100 a barrel, with Brent rising more than 60% in March to around $118 and US West Texas Intermediate surging above $100, marking the biggest monthly gain in decades. US consumers were also hit as average gas prices rose above $4 a gallon this week for the first time since 2022.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed this week that he had been receiving messages from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, but denied that the two countries were holding talks behind the scenes.

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