MARCH 31, 2026
Donald Trump insisted he had done ‘the hard part’ by launching the war on Iran, insisting countries like the UK would have to reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump has told America’s allies to fight their own battles as he warned he was prepared to walk away from the blockaded Strait of Hormuz in a major retreat in the Iran war.
The President singled out the UK as he tore into countries struggling to find fuel, telling them to buy American and secure the Strait themselves.
‘I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,’ Trump posted on Truth Social.
‘You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.’
Stocks rose after Trump reportedly told aides he was willing to end the war even if the Strait remains shut – a significant climbdown from his earlier threats to ‘completely obliterate’ Iran’s oil fields unless the waterway reopened.
The Dow jumped 498 points, or 1 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 1.2 percent, and the Nasdaq surged 1.4 percent.
Oil continued to climb with Brent crude, the global benchmark, hitting $117 per barrel, up 4 percent. The national average gas price topped $4 a gallon for the first time since the war began on February 28.
Trump’s comments came as European countries have turned their backs on the Iran war. Even friends like Emmanuel Macron have called the strikes ‘outside of international law’ and that France ‘cannot approve them.’
Italy barred an American bomber flying to the Middle East from landing at one of its bases, Spain restricted its airspace for US warplanes, and Poland refused to send Patriot air defense systems to the region.
Europe’s rejection of the conflict stands at odds with America’s Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain privately urging Washington to press on with the war.
Officials in all four Gulf states have privately insisted the military operation must continue until the Iranian leadership is toppled or forced into a dramatic U-turn.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to seize the ‘historic opportunity’ in the Middle East, encouraging the President to deploy ground troops to seize Iran’s energy sites.
Trump insisted Iran had been ‘essentially, decimated’ and ‘the hard part is done’ after US forces overnight dropped 2,000lb bunker-buster bombs on an ammunition depot in Isfahan as an Iranian drone set ablaze a fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker off Dubai.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said the Al-Salmi, carrying 2 million barrels of crude, was struck while anchored at Dubai port, causing a fire onboard. All 24 crew members were safe and no oil spill was reported.
Trump is gunning for a deal with Tehran before an April 6 deadline to reopen the Strait, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
She added that talks were progressing and that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells US officials in private.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the US peace proposals relayed via intermediaries as ‘unrealistic, illogical and excessive.’
The Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi oil tanker was reported to have been attacked by an Iranian drone while anchored at Dubai port.
Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei insisted: ‘We are under military aggression. Therefore, all our efforts and strength are focused on defending ourselves.’
Trump tells allies ‘go and TAKE’ Hormuz in shock Iran retreat signal as markets erupt.
The White House also confirmed Trump was weighing whether to ask Arab nations to foot the bill for the war.
‘It’s an idea that I know that he has and something that I think you’ll hear more from him on,’ Leavitt said.
Courtesy/Source: The Daily Mail
