US President Donald Trump has called on other countries to deploy warships to help safeguard global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, as the strategic waterway remains largely disrupted by the threat of Iranian attacks.
Posting on social media on Saturday, Trump said several nations affected by the disruption should join the United States in securing the crucial maritime route.
“Many countries… will be sending war ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” he wrote, urging nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to take part in the effort.
The conflict, which began when US and Israeli forces launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, has sharply escalated regional tensions and disrupted global energy markets.
Iranian threats and attacks have nearly halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a route normally used for around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies sending oil prices up about 40 percent and causing turbulence in the global economy.
Despite heavy bombardment, Tehran has rejected Trump’s claim that its military capabilities have been completely destroyed and continues to launch missiles and drones at Israeli targets, Gulf energy infrastructure and other locations across the region.
Explosions were reported in several areas, including Bahrain’s capital Manama, while black smoke was seen rising from the major oil terminal in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Security sources also said a drone struck the US embassy in Iraq.
According to Iranian health ministry figures, more than 1,200 people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes, though the toll could not be independently verified.
The UN refugee agency said up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran, many fleeing the capital and other major cities.
The Pentagon said more than 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit since the start of the campaign, and US media reported that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and about 2,500 Marines have been deployed to the region.
Meanwhile, regional tensions continue to spread. Iran-backed Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israel, drawing retaliatory Israeli air and ground operations in Lebanon, where authorities say at least 826 people have been killed.
The escalating conflict has also disrupted international events, including the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Formula One races, as governments warn of a widening regional crisis.
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