As the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran continue, Japan and South Korea are showing hesitation over a more direct role in managing the fallout. The stakes are high as both countries depend heavily on energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has managed to effectively close. This hesitation is not without precedent, as during the Iraq War, both countries supported the United States despite serious domestic and legal constraints. The difference in this case is the level of trust in American leadership, which has been attributed to the Bush administration's focus on alliance management as part of the war effort. Without clear war aims, participation becomes politically indefensible. This uncertainty makes it harder for allied governments to ask for a partner to be involved in this crisis.