Amid a war with Iran that has affected the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and triggered a global energy crisis, American President Donald Trump has called on countries to support the U.S. by sending warships to keep the artery open for global oil and gas transportation.

Activities in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow ocean passageway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas is shipped, have been disrupted by a lingering crisis between the U.S. and Iran for about two weeks.

“Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

Mr Trump specifically hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe for global oil and gas transportation.

“Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated,” Mr Trump said.

The American president said, though Iran’s military capability has been completely destroyed, the Islamic Republic could easily “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”

He added, “In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline and continually shooting Iranian boats and ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait open, safe, and free!”

Global oil prices have spiked due to disruption at the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel, in a joint “Operation Epic Fury” attack, killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Newly selected Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a statement, insisted that Iran would continue to attack ships along the Strait of Hormuz.