Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has initiated efforts to clear the strategic Strait of Hormuz "as a favor" to South Korea, China, Japan, and other countries dependent on the passage for energy imports. In a recent social media post, Trump referred to U.S. actions to reopen the strait, which has faced significant disruptions due to Iran's missile and drone attacks amidst ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against the Islamic Republic.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump expressed frustration in his post on Truth Social, stating that nations like China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany, among others, lack the "Courage or Will" to undertake such efforts independently. He has consistently voiced his disappointment over the reluctance of NATO allies, as well as South Korea and Japan, to comply with his requests for support in securing the strait, including the deployment of naval warships to escort merchant vessels.

The president's remarks coincided with the initiation of the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, aiming to conclude their ongoing conflict. The talks follow the recent agreement on a two-week ceasefire. However, concerns linger regarding the ceasefire's implementation, exacerbated by Israel's actions against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Iran's imposed limitations on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.