Trump presses seven nations to deploy warships for Hormuz security as oil prices surge amid Iran war

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he has asked about seven countries to deploy warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but said his appeals have yet to produce firm commitments even as oil prices spike during the war with Iran.

Trump declined to name the countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude that Washington is trying to persuade to join a multinational naval coalition to secure the narrow shipping channel, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil normally passes.

Also Read: Trump says 'we're talking' to Iran but it's not 'ready' for deal to end war


"I'm demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory," Trump said about the strait, adding the United States itself does not rely heavily on oil flowing through the passage.

Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington from Florida.

The president said China receives about 90% of its oil through the strait, while the United States gets only a minimal share. He declined to say whether China would join the proposed coalition.

"It would be nice to have other countries police that with us, and we'll help. We'll work with them," Trump said.

Previously, he has appealed to China, France, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom to participate.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that Tehran has been "approached by a number of countries" seeking safe passage for their vessels through the strait.

"And this is up to our military to decide," he said.

Araghchi said a group of vessels from “different countries” had already been allowed through, but did not provide further details.

Iran has maintained that the strait remains open to all except the United States and its allies.

He added that “we don't see any reason why we should talk with Americans” about ending the war, arguing that Israel and the U.S. initiated the conflict with coordinated strikes on Feb. 28 during indirect U.S.–Iran talks over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Araghchi also said Iran had “no plan to recover” enriched uranium buried under rubble following U.S. and Israeli strikes last year.

Also Read: Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report

Countries cautious after Trump’s call

Despite Trump’s push, governments have so far stopped short of making concrete commitments.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC that he has been "in dialogue" with some of the countries previously mentioned by Trump and said he expected China "will be a constructive partner" in efforts to reopen the strait.

Britain said Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on Sunday about the importance of reopening the shipping lane "to end the disruption to global shipping." Starmer also discussed the issue separately with Canada’s prime minister.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump said Starmer had initially declined to send British aircraft carriers "into harm's way."

"Whether we get support or not, but I can say this, and I said to them: We will remember," Trump said.

A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said previously that "all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply," adding that Beijing would "strengthen communication with relevant parties" to de-escalate tensions.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said it "takes note" of Trump’s request and would "closely coordinate and carefully review" the situation with the United States.

Japan said Monday it was "not considering" maritime security operations after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

"In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation," Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament.

Expectations are high that Trump will press Sanae Takaichi directly when Japan’s prime minister visits the White House on Thursday.

Emmanuel Macron has also said France is working with partners — including countries in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait, though Paris has stressed such a mission could proceed only when "the circumstances permit" and fighting subsides.

Germany signaled it would stay out of the conflict. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told ARD television: “Will we soon be an active part of this conflict? No.”

Australia's transport minister said the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the strategic waterway.

"We won't be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is but that's not something we've been asked or we're contributing to," Transport Minister Catherine King told national broadcaster ABC.

Emergency oil stocks to be released

The International Energy Agency said Sunday that emergency oil reserves will soon be released to calm global markets, calling the coordinated move "by far the largest ever."

The agency revised last week’s announcement of 400 million barrels upward to nearly 412 million.

Asian member countries plan to release stocks "immediately," while reserves from Europe and the Americas will begin flowing to markets from the end of March.

Trump declined to say whether his administration is considering selling oil futures to cap surging prices.

"The prices are going to come tumbling down as soon as it's over. And it's going to be over pretty quickly," he told reporters.

Missile and drone attacks continue

Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain reported new missile or drone attacks.

The strikes came a day after Iran warned of possible attacks on three major ports in the United Arab Emirates — the first time Tehran has threatened non-U.S. assets in a neighboring country.

Iran has accused Washington of launching strikes Friday on Kharg Island from the UAE, though it has provided no evidence.

Tehran has warned it would target U.S.-linked "oil, economic and energy infrastructures" if its own oil facilities are hit.

U.S. Central Command said it had no response to Iran’s claim. Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, rejected the accusation.

Gulf countries hosting U.S. bases have denied allowing their territory or airspace to be used for operations against Iran.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf neighbors during the conflict, causing significant damage and shaking regional economies even as many of the projectiles are intercepted.

Tehran says it targets U.S. assets, though strikes have also been reported at civilian locations such as airports and oil fields.

War’s toll mounts across the region

Iranian strikes have killed at least a dozen civilians in Gulf countries, most of them migrant workers.

In Iran, the International Committee of the Red Cross said more than 1,300 people have been killed.

Iran’s health ministry said 223 women and 202 children are among the dead, according to Mizan News Agency, the judiciary’s official news outlet.

Iranian authorities on Sunday showed journalists buildings damaged by strikes in Tehran on Friday. A police station was hit and surrounding structures were badly damaged, with some apartment buildings stripped of their outer walls.

"God had mercy on all of us," said resident Elham Movagghari. Other Iranians are fleeing the country.

In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile attacks, with more injured, including three on Sunday.

At least 13 U.S. service members have also died, six of them in a plane crash in Iraq last week.

In Lebanon, at least 820 people have been killed since Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes and deployed additional troops to southern Lebanon.

In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people — nearly one in seven residents — have been displaced.

Fresh Iranian missile strikes hit Israel

Israel’s military said early Monday that Iran launched additional missiles toward the country.

Earlier strikes hit central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, damaging 23 sites and sparking a small fire.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency rescue service, released video showing a large crater in a street and shrapnel damage to an apartment building.

Israel’s military also said Iran is using cluster munitions capable of evading some air defenses and dispersing submunitions across multiple locations.