Thailand Says US Has Offered No Direct Help Amid Iran War

(MENAFN) Thailand's foreign minister has delivered a pointed rebuke of Washington's silence toward longtime allies bearing the economic brunt of the Iran war, revealing that the United States has yet to extend any direct offer of assistance to Bangkok despite being fully aware of the fallout, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

In a weekend interview with the Post, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said that while Trump administration officials acknowledge the war's cascading consequences, no formal outreach has followed.

"But they haven't come out to talk to us about how they can help. They haven't approached us directly saying, 'Oh, we understand that you have to endure the impact, and we can help you out,'" Sihasak said.

The sole gesture from Washington, he noted, amounted to a standing commercial invitation rather than targeted relief — a reference to President Donald Trump's nationally televised offer this month for energy-starved nations to purchase American fuel. "Buy oil from the United States of America," Trump said during a prime-time address this month. "We have plenty."

Sihasak was equally unsparing on the war's legitimacy itself, articulating Bangkok's position with carefully measured but unmistakable candor.

"We don't want to condemn the US directly. But this is something that should not have started," he added — remarks that carry particular weight given that Thailand hosts key logistics and refueling hubs serving US military forces across Asia.

Sihasak said that Thailand's position is that "this war should not have taken place in the first place."

Thailand's difficulties have been compounded by its limited financial firepower in a global scramble to secure alternative supplies of fuel and fertilizer — shipments now bottlenecked in the Middle East. Wealthier nations have outbid Bangkok at every turn, deepening the country's exposure to the conflict's economic shockwaves.

The human cost is also mounting. According to a tally by media, at least 27 nationals from Asian countries have been confirmed killed or reported missing since the conflict — launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran on Feb. 28 — began. Three of those casualties are Thai nationals.

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