Washington

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised NATO allies, calling them a “paper tiger” after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping.

Trump said that several NATO countries reached out to the United States offering support soon after Tehran declared that the key maritime route would be accessible again. However, he claimed that he advised them to stay away unless their involvement was limited to transporting oil.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump remarked that NATO had been ineffective when needed, adding that their assistance was unnecessary at this stage.

At the same time, the US President praised countries in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, for their role during the crisis. He publicly thanked them for their cooperation and support in managing the situation.

Iran’s announcement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz came amid an ongoing ceasefire, with officials confirming that commercial vessels would be allowed safe passage throughout this period. The move is aimed at restoring stability in global trade and energy markets, which had been disrupted in recent weeks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that shipping routes through the strait would remain fully operational during the ceasefire, following coordination with the country’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

Trump also confirmed that the waterway is now open for normal operations but made it clear that the US naval blockade targeting Iran would continue. He said the restrictions would remain in place until a complete agreement is reached between Washington and Tehran.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, had been blocked earlier by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after joint US-Israel airstrikes on Tehran on February 28.

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The disruption had triggered volatility in global energy markets and affected supply chains worldwide, making the reopening of the route a significant development for the global economy.