Trump seeks multinational naval coalition to police Strait of Hormuz

CAIRO — Donald Trump said Sunday he has asked about seven countries to deploy warships to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil shipping lane, as tensions linked to the Iran war continue to push oil prices higher.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from Florida, Trump said he has urged major oil-importing nations to participate in a coalition that would ensure the waterway remains open. The strait, located between Iran and Oman, normally handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said, arguing that the United States itself relies less on the route for energy supplies.

The U.S. president declined to identify the countries currently being approached but noted that several major economies depend heavily on oil shipments passing through the narrow channel. He added that the United States would support such an effort even if other nations take the lead.

Trump also said China receives around 90 percent of its oil through the strait, while the United States imports relatively little from the route. He did not confirm whether Beijing would participate in the proposed maritime coalition.

“It would be nice to have other countries police that with us, and we’ll help. We’ll work with them,” Trump said. In earlier appeals, he mentioned countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Iran signaled that passage through the strait remains possible for certain vessels. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, told CBS that several countries had approached Tehran seeking safe passage for their ships. According to him, Iranian authorities had allowed a group of vessels from “different countries” to pass, though he did not specify which nations were involved.

Araghchi also reiterated that Tehran sees little reason to negotiate directly with Washington to end the conflict, accusing the United States and Israel of initiating hostilities through coordinated strikes on Feb. 28 during ongoing indirect talks over Iran’s nuclear program.

In Washington, Chris Wright said he had been in dialogue with several countries previously mentioned by Trump and expressed hope that China could play a “constructive” role in restoring stability to the shipping lane.

So far, however, no country has formally committed forces.

The United Kingdom confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with Trump the importance of reopening the strait to prevent further disruption to global shipping. Trump said Starmer initially hesitated to place British aircraft carriers “into harm’s way,” though discussions remain ongoing.

China’s embassy in Washington said all parties share responsibility for ensuring stable energy supplies and that Beijing would continue communication with relevant governments to reduce tensions.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry likewise acknowledged Trump’s request, saying it is closely monitoring developments and coordinating with the United States.

Diplomatic attention may soon turn to Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to meet Trump at the White House later this week.

Elsewhere, European officials have discussed the possibility of a broader international escort mission. French President Emmanuel Macron previously said Paris is consulting with partners in Europe, India and Asia about such an operation, though he stressed it would depend on security conditions once hostilities subside.

Germany, however, has ruled out direct involvement. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin does not intend to become “an active part of this conflict.”

Amid the ongoing tensions, the International Energy Agency announced that emergency oil reserves will soon be released to global markets to help ease price pressures. The agency said nearly 412 million barrels will be made available — the largest coordinated release of strategic reserves to date.

Asian member states plan to release supplies immediately, while reserves in Europe and the Americas are expected to begin flowing by the end of March.

Despite the current volatility, Trump predicted oil prices would fall once hostilities ease.

“The prices are going to come tumbling down as soon as it’s over. And it’s going to be over pretty quickly,” he said.

The conflict has already had a severe human and economic toll across the region. Iran-backed missile and drone strikes have hit several Gulf states, while retaliatory attacks have targeted key infrastructure.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the escalation began. Iranian officials said the dead include hundreds of women and children.

The violence has also spread to neighboring countries. In Israel, at least 12 people have died from Iranian missile strikes, while the U.S. military confirmed the deaths of 13 service members, including six killed in a plane crash in Iraq last week.

Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has further destabilized the region. Lebanese authorities report at least 820 fatalities and more than 800,000 people displaced after Israeli strikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Early Monday, Israel’s military reported additional missile launches from Iran toward Israeli territory, as the widening conflict continues to threaten global energy markets and regional stability.