Trump's Iran Deadline: Asian Nations Secure Safe Passage

0:00On April 6, President Trump laid down a hard line, saying he'd take out Iran in one night if they don't reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. This vital choke point for global shipping got shut after Iran fired back at U.S. and Israeli airstrikes by threatening any vessels passing through. Even before the deadline hit, Asian nations jumped in with deals from Tehran. Things like the Philippines, Pakistan, India, and China secured safe passage for their ships, driven by heavy reliance on Gulf energy imports. Oil prices spiked hard since a fifth of the world's energy flows through that narrow route. The Philippines, importing 98% of its oil from the Middle East, declared a national energy emergency as gas prices more than doubled. Details on these packs are murky unclear if they cover all flagged ships or just some, and whether tolls were paid. Reports note Iran seems to separate alliances from active conflict roles, letting even U.S. friendly nations through.

1:01These breakthroughs highlight diplomacy's pull amid the chaos, but with military ops ongoing, how long these safe lanes hold as anyone's guess as the... The region stays on edge. Stay informed with Global News, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.