Trump Rebukes European Allies Over Iran War and Strait of Hormuz Blockade

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly rebuked European allies who declined to participate in Operation Epic Fury, the joint American-Israeli military campaign against Iran, telling countries struggling with jet fuel shortages to either buy oil from the United States or seize it themselves from the Strait of Hormuz. Trump posted the message on his Truth Social platform, singling out the United Kingdom by name for refusing to take part in what he called the "decapitation of Iran." He warned that Washington would no longer defend the interests of allies who had not stood alongside the United States during the campaign. The post came as European Brent crude traded at approximately $107 per barrel on Tuesday afternoon, with May futures contracts rising to $118 per barrel, and American WTI crude at approximately $103 per barrel. Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the February 28 strikes, triggering a sharp rise in global energy prices and limiting aviation fuel availability across Europe.

Trump's Truth Social posts target UK and France Trump's first post addressed all countries unable to obtain jet fuel due to the Iranian blockade, with the United Kingdom cited as the leading example.

„To all of those countries that can't get Jet Fuel because of the Straits of Hormuz, like Great Britain, as an example, who refused to take part in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion: Number 1: Buy from the United States, we have plenty, and Number 2: Get some delayed courage, go to the Straits, and just TAKE IT” — Donald Trump via Business Insider

Minutes later, Trump posted a second message directed specifically at France, accusing Paris of blocking American military aircraft carrying weapons for Israel from using French airspace.

„France would not allow planes flying to Israel, loaded with military equipment, to fly over its territory. France was VERY UNHELPFUL regarding the 'Butcher of Iran', who was successfully eliminated! The United States will NOT FORGET this!!!” — Donald Trump via wiadomosci.radiozet.pl

Reuters reported on Tuesday that France had indeed refused overflight rights for planes transporting American military equipment to Israel. The agency also established that Italy last week declined permission for American military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily, reportedly because Washington had not sought prior approval from the government in Rome. Spain additionally confirmed that it had informed Washington at the outset of the conflict that its airspace was closed to aircraft participating in the operation, and that the Rota and Moron bases in southern Spain would not be available for actions against Iran, which Madrid considers illegal.

Hegseth signals Washington may step back from Hormuz mission U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth followed Trump's posts with a statement at a press briefing, saying that "the world should be ready to act" regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to RMF24. The remark signaled a possible shift in American posture, though its precise meaning remained unclear, as NATO allies had not received a formal invitation to discuss a joint Western presence in the Persian Gulf. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump told advisors he is prepared to end the war with Iran even if the Strait remains largely closed, after assessments concluded that a mission to reopen the waterway would extend the conflict beyond the assumed four-to-six week schedule. The New York Times reported that the United States conveyed a 15 (points) — peace plan items transmitted to Iran via Pakistan plan to Iran through Pakistan, demanding among other things the opening of the Strait, the cessation of support for regional militias, and the termination of uranium enrichment at the Natanz and Fordow facilities. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei responded on Monday, calling the demands "largely excessive, unrealistic and groundless," according to polsatnews.pl.

Brent crude (spot): 107, WTI crude (spot): 103, Brent crude (May futures): 118

Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, began on February 28, 2026. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes, with his death confirmed by the Iranian government on March 1, 2026. Iran responded to the attacks by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil flows under normal conditions. In mid-March, Trump called on other nations to help unblock the strait. On March 19, six countries — France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan — declared readiness to contribute to navigation security in the area, and an attempt was subsequently made to build a broader coalition of approximately 30 economies, though no formal joint operation was launched.

Six-nation coalition declared readiness, but no joint action followed Despite the diplomatic tensions, a group of six countries — France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan — declared on March 19 their readiness to contribute to the security of navigation near the Strait of Hormuz, according to polsatnews.pl. Following that declaration, the AFP agency reported that these countries attempted to build a broader coalition involving approximately 30 world economies, with the goal of reopening the strait as quickly as possible. However, no American or Israeli consultation with partners preceded the Operation Epic Fury strikes, and no formal invitation for a joint Western presence in the Persian Gulf was issued. G7 countries agreed to protect shipping through the strait, but only after the conclusion of the U.S. operation in Iran, according to RMF24. Trump's Tuesday posts drew a sharp line between countries that supported the campaign and those that did not, framing future American assistance as contingent on allied participation. The episode exposed a significant rift between Washington and several of its traditional European partners over the legality and scope of the Iran campaign, with Spain explicitly characterizing American military actions against Iran as illegal under its national legal framework.