Trump lashes out at NATO allies for ‘foolish mistake’ over Iran

US President Donald Trump has accused North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) members of making a 'foolish mistake' by refusing to help America secure the Strait of Hormuz during its war with Iran.

In a public statement on Friday, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said it would continue to block the key oil shipping route following escalating attacks from the US and Israel.

Trump appealed for a multinational naval force to reopen the strait, but NATO allies and other Western nations refused.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer ruled out a NATO mission, while Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, “This is not our war; we did not start it”.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski already ruled out participation, and Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said it was 'absolutely not' contributing its military.

Speaking at the Oval Office, Trump described the rejection as 'shocking' and a 'very foolish mistake'.

“I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake. And I’ve long said that I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So, this was a great test, because we don’t need them, but they should have been there,” he said.

Reaffirming his stance on Truth Social, he added, “We don’t need too much help. We don’t need any help, actually”.

To listen to world news correspondent Vicki Turner in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: