President Donald Trump has urged U.S. allies to go to the Strait of Hormuz, a passage used for Gulf oil exports, and "just TAKE" the petroleum. This statement was made in a social media post, suggesting that states like the U.K. should either "build up some delayed courage" and go to this strait or buy it from the US. It is unclear what the president means by this statement. Since the start of the war, oil shipments through the Strait have decreased significantly. The president has demanded that his allies play a significant role in the war against Iran, which began with a fatal strike against Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.