'Cowards': Trump lashes out at NATO over Strait of Hormuz as oil prices spike
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US President Donald Trump lashes out at NATO, calling the alliance "cowards". (Reuters: Nathan Howard)
In short:
Donald Trump has angrily criticised the NATO alliance as "cowards", claiming on Truth Social that it would be "easy" for them to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks.
It comes amid several reports that the US plans to blockade Iran's strategically important Kharg Island and is preparing to send thousands more troops to the region.
Meanwhile, Iran's military threatened to "hunt down" US and Israeli officials and commanders, wherever they were in the world.
Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO "cowards" for not heeding his call to protect the Strait of Hormuz, as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its third week today.
The US president took to Truth Social to lambaste the alliance, amid reports that the US was preparing to send thousands of troops to the Middle East to support operations in the Gulf.
Iran war live updates: For all the latest news on the war in the Middle East, read our blog.
Meanwhile, several reports have suggested that Mr Trump is weighing up plans to occupy or blockade Iran's strategically important Kharg Island.
"Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!," he wrote on social media platform, Truth Social.
"COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!"
He went on to write that it would be easy for NATO to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial shipping route that has been closed since the war broke out.
"Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuvre [SIC] that is the single reason for the high oil prices."
The White House has said the US could "take out" Iran's Kharg island whenever it wanted.
Asked about reports the oil hub could be blockaded, White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement to AFP: "The United States Military can take out Kharg Island at any time if the President gives the order."
Meanwhile, Iran's military threatened to "hunt down" US and Israeli officials and commanders, wherever they were in the world.
"We are watching your cowardly officials and commanders, pilots and wicked soldiers," the Iranian armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said, quoted by state TV.
"From now on, based on the information we have on you, the promenades, resorts and tourist and entertainment centres in the world will not be safe."
US readying to send more troops, say officials
Several US officials told Reuters that the military was preparing to deploy thousands of additional marines and sailors to the region to support operations.
No decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself, two of the officials said, but it was said the reinforcements would build up capacity for potential future operations in the region.
Security personnel inspect the damage in Jerusalem's Old City after Iran launched missiles. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)
Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday that he was not putting troops "anywhere", but that if he were to do so, he would not tell journalists.
The UK government has also given permission for the US to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the strait.
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In a separate development, Israel pounded Tehran with air strikes while Iranians marked the Persian New Year, prompting Iran to retaliate firing at Israel and energy sites across the Gulf.
Once again, that sent energy and oil prices soaring.
Iran's Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since being named to succeed his father Ali Khamenei, wrote on Telegram the country had dealt its enemies a "dizzying blow".
More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US military members across the region.
Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have also been displaced.
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