Trump Criticizes NATO, Iran Crisis Escalates

0:00On March 20, President Trump sharply criticized NATO allies on Friday for not backing the United States and Israel in the conflict with Iran. He called them cowards in a social media post and said NATO would be a paper tiger without American support. The dispute centers on Iran's effective closure of a key strait that carries 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. This has caused the biggest oil supply disruption ever, driving of global energy prices and hurting trade. Trump has pressed NATO partners all week to help reopen the vital shipping route with naval escorts. But European leaders turned him down, worried about safety risks and sparking a bigger war. Instead, on Thursday, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer teamed up with leaders from Japan, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. They issued a joint call for Iran to halt attacks on energy sites, mines, drones, missiles and shipping blockades. Global markets remain on edge as energy flows stay choked and talks continue to ease

1:00the standoff.