Infobrief
Mar 13, 2026

"Trump Urges Cargo Ships to “Be Brave” Crossing the Strait of Hormuz 📲 🧽"

Trump Urges Cargo Ships to “Show Courage” While Passing Through the Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump has advised commercial cargo vessels to remain calm and “show courage” when navigating the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, even as tensions with Iran continue to escalate and threats against international shipping grow.

Speaking during an interview with Fox News on March 12, Trump addressed concerns about the security of commercial shipping in the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to global trade routes. The strait is one of the most important maritime chokepoints in the world, with roughly a fifth of the global oil supply passing through it each day.

Despite recent threats from Iran and reports of attacks on vessels, Trump insisted that cargo ships should not be intimidated while traveling through the region.

“They should show courage,” Trump said. “There’s nothing to fear.”

Trump argued that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely weakened, claiming that the country no longer has a meaningful naval force capable of dominating the waterway. According to him, U.S. military actions in recent months have inflicted significant damage on Iranian maritime assets.

“They don’t really have a navy anymore,” Trump said. “We’ve sunk their ships.”

The former president also accused Iran of escalating tensions across the Middle East, claiming that Tehran has spent the past several months aiming thousands of missiles at countries in the region as part of a broader strategy to expand its influence and control.

Claims About Iran’s Leadership

Trump also made remarks about Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. According to Trump, the leader has reportedly been injured but remains alive.

Khamenei recently issued his first statement since taking power but has not appeared publicly in recent days, fueling speculation about his condition.

U.S. Navy Escort Plan Faces Challenges

While Trump expressed confidence that commercial shipping should continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, officials within the U.S. government have acknowledged that providing military protection for tankers may take time.

Chris Wright stated on March 12 that the United States Navy currently does not have enough resources immediately available to escort oil tankers traveling through the strait.

According to Wright, it could take several weeks to organize and deploy the necessary naval operations to protect commercial shipping effectively.

Earlier this month, Trump announced that the U.S. Navy would soon begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, though he did not provide a specific timeline for when those missions would start.

Shipping Companies Remain Cautious

Despite these assurances, many shipping companies remain extremely cautious about sending vessels through the narrow passage. The Strait of Hormuz is only about 21 miles (34 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point, making ships particularly vulnerable to missile strikes, mines, or drone attacks.

Insurance costs for vessels traveling through the region have reportedly increased sharply as the security situation continues to deteriorate.

The waterway is a critical artery for global energy markets. Oil and gas exports from major producers such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates rely heavily on safe passage through the strait.

Any disruption to traffic there could send global energy prices surging and impact economies around the world.

Iran Issues Strong Warnings

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have delivered strong warnings to international shipping.

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