President Donald Trump is speaking with European allies and many other nations about opening the Strait of Hormuz, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday (March 16).

British Prime Minister Keir Starmersaid on Monday said Britain would not be drawn into a wider war in Iran but would work with allies on a "viable" plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The war in the Middle East is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, as major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE cut production.

Leavitt told reporters Trump was "absolutely right to call on these countries to do more to to help the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, so that we can stop this terrorist regime from restricting the free flow of energy."

On China, Leavitt said Trump's visit to Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping is not in jeopardy but could be delayed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 16, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - Broadcast: No use USA/ Digital: No use USA_

1. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON KAROLINE LEAVITT WALKING TOWARD REPORTERS ALONG WHITE HOUSE DRIVEWAY

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, SAYING:

"These countries are absolutely benefiting from ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. This is something not just the United States, but the entire Western world has agreed with for many, many years. So I think the president is absolutely right to call on these countries to do more, to to help the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, so that we can stop this terrorist regime from restricting the free flow of energy. And the fact that they are doing so just underscores why President Trump needed to take this action in the first place."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, SAYING:

"The president spoke on that last night. He said that he wished the U.K. had stepped up sooner and quicker, but he continues to speak with our allies in Europe and is calling on them to do more, just as he did when he called on them step up with respect to their defense spending in NATO, he's calling them to more here, and I think you'll see that come to fruition."

6.WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, SAYING:

"So the president looks forward to meeting with President Xi in China. This is a trip I know he's long been looking forward to and I know President Xi has been looking forward to welcoming President Trump. As for the dates, as you heard from the President last night, there's a possibility the trip could be delayed. We'll keep you posted on that. But these are leader-to-leader conversations that are happening, so as soon as we have an update, we'll provide the new dates."