HAccording to a report by The Times of Israel on Monday, March 16, 2026, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended US President Donald Trump’s insistence that American allies assist Washington in ensuring safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Leavitt spoke to reporters outside the White House amid Iran’s efforts to block the crucial sea channel, a key route for the global movement of oil, in response to US-Israeli military actions against the country.
“These other countries are benefiting greatly from the United States military taking out the threat of Iran,” Leavitt said. She added that the “rogue Iranian regime has long not just posed a threat to the United States of America, but to our Gulf and Arab partners in the region.”
Leavitt highlighted Iran’s recent missile strikes on civilian targets over the past two-plus weeks and noted that Iranian missiles also have the potential to reach Europe. The press secretary’s remarks come as the US seeks greater international support for military and naval operations in the Gulf aimed at countering Iran’s actions.
Trump has urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to deploy warships to help secure the strait and protect global shipping.
Leavitt emphasized that the United States is leading efforts to mitigate threats posed by Iran while underscoring the shared benefits for allied nations in maintaining regional security.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran’s recent attempts to block the passage have disrupted shipping and contributed to rising global energy costs.
US officials maintain that the cooperation of allied nations is essential to ensure uninterrupted maritime traffic and to deter further escalation by Iran. Leavitt’s comments stressed that the United States’ military actions are aimed at neutralizing threats not only to US interests but also to regional partners in the Gulf and beyond.
The White House has framed Trump’s calls for allied assistance as a shared security effort, highlighting the potential regional and international consequences of Iranian missile activity.
Leavitt concluded that the United States remains committed to safeguarding commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and protecting both American and allied interests in the region.
The administration has repeatedly called on allies to contribute to the security of the strait as Iran continues to challenge maritime operations. Officials emphasized that cooperation among nations is critical to maintaining stability in a region central to the global energy supply and international trade.