European and Asian nations have shown little appetite to join any U.S. military effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, leaving Washington isolated in its confrontation with Iran over the world's most critical energy chokepoint.
French President Emmanuel Macron said a military option at the Strait of Hormuz is unrealistic. Freedom of navigation can only be re-established through coordination with Iran, Macron argued, as "Hvylya" reports citing the Wall Street Journal.
Gulf Cooperation Council states such as the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia have significant naval and air forces. But diplomats and officials say they would not engage Iran without a major American intervention. The gap between Trump's demand that energy-importing nations "grab it and cherish it" and the actual willingness of those nations to act has left the situation at a stalemate.
There are still paths short of war. Together with regional powers such as Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, and with broad international backing, Gulf states could mount significant political and economic pressure on Iran to restore free passage. Even Russia, Iran's closest ally, said this week that any arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz must be agreed by all littoral states - a notable break from Tehran's unilateral claims.
Mehran Haghirian, director of research at the Bourse and Bazaar think tank, said Iran's attempt to enforce control over the strait after hostilities end would be akin to piracy. "It would just lead to a complete isolation of the Islamic Republic beyond what it is right now," Haghirian said. The pressure would come not just from the GCC but from the entire international community that depends on the waterway - a coalition stretching from Indonesia to Burkina Faso to Colombia.
Earlier, "Hvylya" reported on how Gulf states have begun reassessing U.S. military bases on their territory.