On March 17, 2026, US President Trump stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would soon provide a signed agreement to assist in maintaining the security of the Hormuz Strait.
During a luncheon with members of the Kennedy Arts Center Board at the White House on Monday, March 16, Trump answered questions from reporters.
When asked which countries would support the United States in its actions against Iran, Trump mentioned that Rubio would soon announce this information, highlighting that some countries are located near Iran while others are further away.
A reporter inquired whether there had been communication with French President Macron regarding seeking French assistance in clearing the Hormuz Strait.
Trump responded affirmatively, mentioning that he had spoken with Macron and added that Macron’s support for the matter was rated at eight out of ten. He believed that France would offer assistance.
President Trump refused to disclose which countries would assist in resolving the issues related to the Hormuz Strait. In his introductory remarks before the questioning session, he mentioned several countries, including Japan, China, South Korea, and “many European countries.” He stated that these countries rely more on the oil from the Hormuz Strait than the United States and hoped they would provide aid.
Due to the impact of the US-Iran war, oil exports from the Middle East region (including major oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia) have decreased by at least 60% this week due to disruptions and production cuts.
The actual closure of the Hormuz Strait has forced exporters to cancel shipments and shut down oil field production, resulting in the largest oil supply disruption in history. Crude oil prices have surged to their highest levels in four years.
According to Kpler data, as of the week ending on March 15th, the average daily oil, condensate, and refined oil exports from the eight Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, stood at 9.71 million barrels, down 61% from the daily average of 25.13 million barrels in February.
Kpler analyst Johannes Rauball stated, “This week, the on-sea storage of Middle East crude oil has exceeded 50 million barrels, surpassing the pre-war level by around 10 million barrels.”