Trump urges Japan to help in Strait of Hormuz as Pentagon seeks more funding for Iran war

Trump has pressed Japan to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating U.S. military operations against Iran, a critical waterway through which roughly one-third of global maritime oil trade flows. Japan and five European nations said Thursday they would help ensure safe passage through the strait, though only after active fighting concludes. The Pentagon is simultaneously requesting approximately $200 billion in funding to sustain the Iran military campaign, underscoring the scale of the commitment being sought from both domestic and international partners. The conditional support from Japan and European allies reflects hesitation to expand military involvement in the region while combat operations continue. Control of the Strait of Hormuz is strategically vital to global energy security and has long been a flashpoint for U.S.-Iran tensions.