Trump went on a rambling rant, and G7 allies panicked: Let's wrap this up, the strait is still blocked

【Text / The Observer Network Ruǎn Jiāqí】

This Thursday (the 12th), Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Muqtada al-Husayni Khamenei, delivered his first speech since taking office, calling for national unity and emphasizing that Iran will continue to block the Strait of Hormuz to pressure opponents. He also vowed revenge for the victims, threatened to “claim compensation” from the U.S. and Israel, and urged neighboring countries in the region to close all U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Just 24 hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump was boasting during a G7 call, claiming Iran was “about to surrender.”

According to the U.S. news website Axios on the 13th, on Wednesday morning, Trump publicly celebrated the results of the “Epic Fury Operation” during the G7 conference call. Sources familiar with the matter said that, consistent with his confident public statements, Trump told other leaders, “I’ve taken out a tumor that threatened us all.”

While claiming Iran was “about to surrender,” Trump contradicted himself by implying that Tehran’s officials no longer survive to make a surrender decision. He said, “No one knows who the leaders are, so no one can declare surrender.”

The report pointed out that at the time of this call, G7 leaders were deeply anxious about the ongoing spillover effects of the conflict on the economy, and they clearly had no interest in indulging Trump’s self-absorption. Several officials revealed that all other leaders urged Trump to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized the immediate need to secure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz.

An official familiar with the call said Trump claimed the situation in the strait was improving and that commercial ships should resume operations in the area. However, at least two oil tankers were attacked and set on fire near Iraq that evening.

On March 12 local time, in waters near Basra, Iraq, foreign oil tankers caught fire and were damaged. Oriental IC

Faced with allies’ concerns, Trump remained vague about war objectives and timelines, refusing to make commitments. He said he was considering “timing” issues, did not give a deadline, but stressed, “We must complete the mission,” to avoid fighting Iran again in five years.

However, the reality is that there are no signs of Iran’s regime surrendering or collapsing. The war has entered its 14th day, and Iran continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz to gain leverage in negotiations.

According to details disclosed by U.S. media, this meeting made G7 allies extremely uneasy, and not just because of that. Two officials said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump during the call not to let Moscow exploit the war or gain sanctions relief.

Hours later, Russian Presidential Special Envoy Dmitryyev discussed the global energy crisis with Trump’s adviser Steve Wittekov and Jared Kushner in Florida.

The next day, ignoring opposition from the three countries, the U.S. Treasury directly announced a one-month sanctions exemption on Russian oil.

Trump also publicly mocked Sunak during the meeting. He was still upset that the UK initially refused to allow U.S. military strikes from its bases.

It wasn’t until Iran’s counterattack affected Gulf countries that Sunak finally agreed to let the U.S. use its bases for “defensive strikes.” But Trump said on the phone, “You should have raised this before the war started. Now it’s too late.”

While Western allies are overwhelmed, U.S. allies in Asia are also uneasy. According to Politico on the 11th, countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam repeatedly asked Washington about the goals and duration of the operation, but Trump’s unpredictable statements made it difficult for these countries to anticipate the conflict’s direction or develop response plans.

What worries these Asian allies even more is that their efforts to seek guidance and assistance from the Trump administration have largely gone unanswered. A diplomat based in Washington said, “We haven’t received any communication from the Trump government.” When asked what actions the U.S. should take, he replied straightforwardly, “Ideally, end this conflict.”

Another Asian official said that even if the fighting cannot be stopped in the short term, the U.S. could still coordinate with multiple countries to insure oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, easing energy market pressures. But the Trump administration has yet to send any signals in this regard.

According to Qatar’s Al Jazeera on the 12th, Vietnam’s oil reserves can only last about 20 days, Indonesia about 21-23 days, Thailand around 65 days, and the Philippines about 50-60 days, most of which are held by private companies; South Korea and Japan have relatively ample reserves, lasting 208 and 254 days respectively.

During the Obama administration, Scott Macher, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, emphasized that embassies in the region urgently need and expect information from the U.S., including what actions will be taken, whether the crisis is short-term, and what assistance Washington will provide.

“Failing to do so will only make regional countries feel more strongly that the U.S. government is not truly committed to being a reliable partner,” he said.

Next week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit the U.S. and meet with Trump, likely focusing on Japan and other Asian countries’ concerns about energy security.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Ram Emanuel, stated bluntly: “The president took action against Iran without consulting allies, leaving them to bear the consequences. During the upcoming meeting, he needs to recognize the costs Japan will pay.”

This article is an exclusive report by The Observer Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.