WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged NATO allies to gather the courage to send naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, renewing criticism of the transatlantic military alliance amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
“They gotta get guts and go in and just send your ships up there and enjoy it,” Trump told Politico when asked about the absence of NATO references in his televised address to the nation on Wednesday night.
Pressed on whether he was frustrated with the alliance, Trump said: “I couldn’t care less. I didn’t need them. But if I ever did need them, they wouldn’t be there.”
Trump’s remarks come as several European allies have criticised Washington for launching military action against Iran without prior consultation.
The US president has repeatedly criticised NATO members over their reluctance to support the war with Iran and operations linked to securing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass daily.
In recent comments, Trump described alliance members as “cowards” and labelled NATO a “paper tiger”, adding that US withdrawal from the alliance was “beyond reconsideration”.
The US President is expected to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington next week, according to The Wall Street Journal.
‘Time for Iran to make a deal’
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said on social media that it is “time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late, and there is nothing left of what still could become a great country”.
Trump has attached a video of a bridge between the Iranian cities of Tehran and Karaj being destroyed, writing “much more to follow”.
Strait of Hormuz disruption
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March following Iranian measures in response to the US-Israeli offensive that began on February 28.
The disruption has rattled global energy markets and heightened concerns over supply chains, as the waterway handles a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump has argued that countries dependent on Gulf energy supplies, including European and regional partners, should take greater responsibility for reopening the route.
Macron rejects military option
French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back against calls for military intervention, describing the idea of forcibly reopening the strait as unrealistic.
“This was never the option we have supported because it is unrealistic,” Macron told reporters during a visit to South Korea.
He warned that such an operation would be prolonged and expose vessels to risks from Iranian forces and missile attacks.
Macron said the strait could only be reopened through diplomatic engagement with Iran.
“It can only be done in consultation with Iran,” he said, adding that France and its partners were working to build a coalition to ensure safe navigation once hostilities end.
He also dismissed Trump’s criticism of NATO allies, saying: “They can deplore the fact they’re not being helped, but that’s not our operation. We want peace as soon as possible.”
Trump says Iran war near completion
In a televised address on Wednesday, Trump said that the US was close to victory in Iran.
The US President offered little new clarity on how the war would conclude but pledged to continue “extremely hard” strikes against Iran for another two to three weeks.
“Tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said,
“In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield — victories like few people have ever seen before,” he added.
Trump said the United States had effectively dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, claiming sweeping battlefield success.
“We’ve done all of it. Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their missiles are just about used up or beaten,” he said.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Iran’s navy is gone. Their air force is in ruins. Most of their leaders are dead. The commanding control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated.
Our enemies are losing and America is winning. pic.twitter.com/Qg0EO9KG0m
— Department of State (@StateDept) April 2, 2026
“Taken together, these actions will cripple Iran’s military, crush their ability to support terrorist proxies, and deny them the ability to build a nuclear bomb. Our armed forces have been extraordinary.”
“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast. We’re getting very close,” he said, reiterating points that have featured prominently in his recent social media posts and media appearances.
