Trump urges Japan, South Korea to aid Strait of Hormuz
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- Trump criticized Japan, South Korea, Australia and NATO for not providing naval assistance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Japan hosts tens of thousands of U.S. troops to protect against North Korea's nuclear weapons, according to Trump.
- Trump warned that unless Tehran makes a deal, the United States would destroy Iran's critical infrastructure within a four‑hour window starting at 8 p.m. on April 7 (8 a.m. Singapore time on April 8).
- Trump said the United States had already won the war militarily and that Iran's bridges and power plants would take 100 years (or 20 years if they left today) to rebuild.
- Kuwait was praised by Trump as a "good" partner alongside Qatar and Saudi Arabia since the war began on Feb 28.
- Iran’s IRNA agency rejected a U.S. 15‑point ceasefire proposal delivered through Pakistan and presented a 10‑point plan calling for a permanent end to the war and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters: The pressure on Japan and South Korea to back a U.S. naval effort could stretch their security commitments, while Iran’s infrastructure faces a potential four‑hour strike if a deal isn’t reached, threatening oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and amplifying regional tensions.

