Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed frustration in Rome that US allies, including Italy, are refusing to support American efforts to confront Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to withdraw US forces from Italy and Spain over their refusal to allow base use for Iran operations, while Saudi Arabia has quietly agreed to maintain US access to its airspace and bases for other purposes but explicitly prohibited their use for the now-paused Strait of Hormuz operation.

Trump pauses effort to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz, citing deal progress United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran. Hours earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined the effort that began on Monday to escort stranded tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began, blocking some 20 per cent of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis.