MSNBC co-host Joe Scarborough said Wednesday that U.S. allies are reacting “very positively” to the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, implemented by the administration of Donald Trump.
The move effectively closed the strategic waterway, preventing Iran from controlling which vessels can pass through the key global shipping route.
Speaking on Morning Joe, Scarborough said there had been growing concern among allies that the United States might accept an unfavorable outcome in recent negotiations in Islamabad or withdraw forces prematurely.
“They are actually very positive about the blockade,” he said, adding that several allies have aligned behind what he described as the “Haas plan.”
The approach, proposed by Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, calls for an “open for all or closed to all” policy governing access to the strait. The concept suggests that either all nations are allowed free passage or none are, with the aim of pressuring Iran while maintaining international support.
Haass argued the strategy could rally global backing while avoiding more complex or risky alternatives, such as escorting tankers through the strait or seizing key infrastructure.
He also suggested that countries reliant on Iranian energy—including China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey—could pressure Tehran to ease restrictions if their own access were threatened.
Following implementation of the blockade, Trump said the strait would soon be “permanently” reopened and claimed that China’s leadership had responded favorably to the move.
