U.S. President Donald Trump [UPI Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump continued his criticism on the 20th (local time) towards North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies who refused to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is effectively blockading.

Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on the same day, "NATO is a paper tiger without the U.S.," adding, "They didn't want to join the fight to deter nuclear-armed Iran."

He further pointed out, "Now that the fight has achieved military victory, and there is almost no danger for them, they only complain about high oil prices, yet they don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military strategy (by Iran) that is the sole cause of high oil prices."

Trump emphasized, "It's a very easy task for them with almost no risk. Cowards," and stated, "And we will remember."

Trump's posts are interpreted as a continuation of demands for warships to be dispatched to protect oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

This may also be a reaction to a joint statement issued the previous day by seven countries, including major European nations such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as Japan and Canada, which condemned Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and declared their willingness to take action to secure safe passage.

This statement did not include any provisions for supporting military assets, including warships, and European leaders stated that direct action to ensure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz would only be possible after the end of hostilities.

Reuters reported, "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clarified that this (statement) is premised on the cessation of hostilities," and "French President Emmanuel Macron also said after an EU summit in Brussels, 'I have not heard any expression of will from anyone here to intervene in a conflict.'"