US Allies See No Way of Opening Hormuz Strait During War

March 19, 2026, 4:54 PM UTC

Europe’s biggest naval powers don’t see a way of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping before the Iran war subsides.

The continent continues to resist Donald Trump’s calls to deploy warships to the strait over fears they will be attacked by Iran. While European officials are discussing a plan to help escort oil tankers and other vessels, they are unlikely to send naval assets until the conflict eases and they get a clearer sense of both a US plan and the Iranian threat.

Discussions for what military support can be sent to the region are in the “very ...

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