President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to withdraw U.S. protection of the Strait of Hormuz from European and Asian nations that have refused to support American military operations against Iran, warning that non-cooperative allies could soon find themselves responsible for the waterway's security.
The U.S. military destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, one day after President Trump warned Tehran that any attempt to mine the critical waterway would draw consequences "at a level never seen before."
Iranian forces seized an oil tanker named Talara on Friday as it passed through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, triggering what could become a major international standoff.
