<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="US "><span>US</span></a><span> President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> has called on several other countries to send ships to the Middle East to open the Strait of Hormuz and ease the global oil supply disruptions brought on by his war in Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-strait-of-hormuz-explained-oil-gas-prices/f8e7c1ed-f6d9-4fe5-8277-6a11c09d8de6" rel="" target="_blank" title="The Strait of Hormuz"><span>The Strait of Hormuz</span></a><span> is a critical but narrow waterway in the Gulf region through which ships carrying one-fifth of the world's oil supply pass. It has all but shut due to the war in Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump today declared he has "beaten and completely decimated Iran, both militarily, economically, and in every other way", but in the same breath asked countries to help secure the 39-kilometre-wide passage. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/artificial-intelligence-tech-sector-lay-offs/dde93ab8-0c9d-409e-ae1f-3d39c0e1ec40" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Experts say worse to come after 23,000 jobs gone in mere months</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have already destroyed 100 per cent of Iran's military capability, but it's easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are," he said in a Truth Social post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!"</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-strait-of-hormuz-donald-trump/14ac7b1f-e957-4cec-b4c2-4855aadf111a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US will be coordinating with affected countries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-donald-trump-sends-2500-more-marines-as-conflict-enters-third-week/c91f61a6-1930-4dbb-ad2e-e4724fb2a93b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Iran directly threatens neighbouring country for first time in three week war</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes just a day after the US bombed Kharg Island - Iran's coral outcrop that produces 90 per cent of the country's oil supply, or 950 million barrels, each year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said he has only struck military targets and left oil infrastructure unharmed, but warned that he will "immediately reconsider" if ships are not allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In response to the call to help, the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="_blank" title="UK "><span>UK</span></a><span> Defence Ministry said: "We are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/france" rel="" target="_blank" title="France "><span>France</span></a><span> is also trying to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin told France24 that "there is no question of sending any vessels" to the area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/iranian-footballers-granted-asylum-three-more-decide-to-return-to-iran/3bbdd83b-1fe2-4eed-b545-6b24ef7b8740" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Three more Iranian footballers backflip on decision to stay in Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Strait of Hormuz carries oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran to markets in Asia, including Iran's main customer, China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While there are limited options for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to avoid the passage, most have no alternate route.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Islamic regime has vowed to block the region's oil exports, saying it would not allow "even a single litre" to be shipped to its enemies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Strait of Hormuz's closure has disrupted oil supply across the world, causing prices to surge to $US100 per barrel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fuel prices are feared to only increase, with prices at the pump exceeding $2 across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/petrol-prices-international-energy-agency-agrees-to-record-release-of-emergency-oil-reserves/80752f03-7fe5-4db8-82a6-933452ae3da0" rel="" target="_blank" title="International Energy Agency has agreed to the largest release of 400 million barrels of oil"><span>International Energy Agency has agreed to the largest release of 400 million barrels of oil</span></a><span> from its emergency reserves in history due to the supply disruptions on the Strait of Hormuz.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/does-australia-have-another-petrol-would-we-run-out-of-fuel-oil-supply-iran-war-news/1f4af25b-2f5a-43d3-8a83-dcc919e12e28" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Will the pumps run dry? How the war in Iran is impacting Australia's oil supply</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia, which imports 90 per cent of its oil, has also released 20 per cent of its petrol and diesel stock to help areas experiencing low supply.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Energy Minister Chris Bowen this week confirmed the country has 1.6 billion litres of petrol, 2.7 billion litres of diesel and 800 million litres of jet fuel available - translating to 37 days' worth of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Political scientist Simon Jackson said Australia is at the end of the fuel supply chain and suggested there could be more pain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The game theory element of this is Iran could be holding back, digging in for protracted conflict, because the longer that they can make this thing go, the more pain comes onto the West through what's happening," he told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>