Trump’s Call For Countries To Send Warships To Protect The Strait Of Hormuz Brings No Promises

CAIRO (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday. requested About seven countries are sending warships to ensure security. Strait of Hormuz open, but their appeal brought no commitment oil prices are rising during Iran war.

The president declined to name countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil that the administration is negotiating to join a coalition to control the waterway that hosts about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade.

Regarding the strait, Trump said, “I demand that these countries come and protect their own territory, because this is their own territory,” and claimed that the shipping channel is not something the United States needs due to its access to oil. Trump spoke while answering questions from reporters while returning to Washington from Florida on Air Force One.

Trump said that China gets 90 percent of its oil from the Strait, while the USA gets a very small amount. He declined to discuss whether China would join the coalition.

Trump said, “It would be nice if other countries would inspect this with us, and we will help. We will work with them.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously told CBS that “a number of countries are approaching Tehran” seeking safe passage for their ships and that “it is up to our military to decide that.” A group of ships from “different countries” were allowed to pass, he said, without providing details.

Iran said the strait, through which one-fifth of global oil exports normally pass, was open to everyone except the United States and its allies.

Araghchi said, “We do not see any reason to talk to the Americans” about finding a way to end the war, and noted that Israel and the USA started the war with coordinated attacks on February 28. US-Iran indirect talks It’s about Iran’s nuclear program. He also said Tehran “has no plans to recover” enriched uranium buried in rubble after US and Israeli attacks last year.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC he was “in dialogue” with some of the countries Trump mentioned and said he expected China to be a “constructive partner” in reopening the strait.

But the countries made no promises.

Britain said Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with Trump on Sunday the importance of reopening the strait “to end the disruption to global shipping” and had spoken about the issue separately with the Canadian prime minister.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China’s embassy in the United States, said “all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply” and that China will “strengthen communication with relevant parties” to ease tensions.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it had “taken note” of Trump’s call and would “closely coordinate and carefully review” the situation with the US.

Expectations are high that Trump will ask questions directly to Japan when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets him at the White House on Thursday.

France has previously said it was working with countries that President Emmanuel Macron mentioned as partners in Europe, India and Asia, on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait, but stressed that this should happen “when conditions allow” and when conflicts subside.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, whose name was not mentioned in Trump’s call, told ARD television: “Are we going to be an active part of this conflict soon? No.”

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency said on Sunday that emergency oil stocks “will soon begin flowing into global markets”, describing the collective action to reduce prices as “the largest action yet”.

It updated last week’s 400 million barrel announcement to approximately 412 million barrels. Asian member states plan to launch stocks “immediately” and reserves in Europe and the Americas will be released “from the end of March”.

Gulf Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain reported new missile or drone attacks A day after Iran called for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates – the first time it has threatened a neighbor country’s non-US assets.

Tehran accuses US of carrying out Friday’s attacks Kharg Islandwithout providing any evidence from the UAE, home to Iran’s primary oil terminal. He threatened to attack US-linked “oil, economic and energy infrastructures” if the oil infrastructure was hit.

US Central Command said it had not responded to Iran’s claim, and Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, denied it. Gulf countries that host US bases have refused to allow their territory or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at its Arab Gulf neighbors. warEven if most are captured, they cause significant damage and shake economies. Tehran says Iran is targeting US assets, although it has reportedly carried out attacks on civilian areas such as airports and oil fields.

Iranian attacks I killed at least a dozen people Most civilians in the Gulf countries are migrant workers.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said more than 1,300 people were killed in Iran. According to the judiciary’s official news agency, Mizan, Iran’s Ministry of Health said there were 223 women and 202 children among the dead.

The Iranian government showed reporters on Sunday buildings damaged in Friday’s attacks in Tehran. A police station was hit and surrounding buildings were damaged. The exterior walls of some flats were dismantled.

“God had mercy on all of us,” said local resident Elham Movagghari. Other Iranians are to leave the country.

An Iranian missile attack in Israel killed 12 people and injured many more, including three on Sunday. At least 13 US soldiers killed, six Plane crash in Iraq last week.

At least 820 people have been killed in Lebanon since Iran-backed Hezbollah struck Israel and Israel responded with attacks and sent additional troops into southern Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people, or nearly one in seven people living in Lebanon, were displaced.

The Israeli military said early Monday that Iran fired a missile at Israel.

Previously, multiple attacks hit central Israel and the Tel Aviv region, causing damage in 23 sites and sparking a small fire. Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom released video showing a large crater forming in a street and shrapnel damage in an apartment building.

Israeli army announced that Iran fired cluster bombs that can evade some air defenses and distribute submunitions to multiple locations.

Metz reported from Ramallah in the West Bank, Frankel from Jerusalem and Anna from Lowville, New York. Contributors include Will Weissert, Associated Press journalists aboard Air Force One; Darlene Superville, Fatima Hussein and Tia Goldenberg in Washington; Sally Abou AlJoud and Fadi Tawil in Beirut; John Leicester in Paris; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles.

This version confirms that Araghchi was speaking to CBS and not NBC as previously reported.