U.S. President Donald Trump urged Japan and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after Iran threatened escalation across the Middle East to retaliate for Washington¡¯s bombing of its main Gulf island energy hub.

Tehran¡¯s ability to stop shipping through the strait, a major channel for oil and gas shipping, could give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.

¡°The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help ¡ª A LOT!¡± Trump wrote in a social media post. ¡°The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well.¡±