By Anietie anii-bassey
U.S. President Donald Trump called on several major powers to deploy naval forces to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but his appeal received no firm commitments on Sunday as the widening conflict with Iran continued to disrupt global energy markets and push oil prices sharply higher.
Trump’s request was directed at a number of key nations, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom, urging them to send warships to help ensure that the strategically vital waterway remains “open and safe.” The narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, normally carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil exports.
Despite the urgency of Washington’s request, governments appeared cautious about becoming directly involved in a military operation tied to the ongoing war with Iran. The conflict, triggered by coordinated American and Israeli strikes earlier this year, has expanded across the region and raised fears of prolonged instability in the global energy supply chain.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has already received requests from multiple countries seeking safe passage for their commercial vessels through the strait. In an interview with CBS, Araghchi explained that Iran’s military ultimately decides which ships may transit the waterway.
He indicated that several vessels from unspecified nations had recently been permitted to pass, though he declined to provide further details. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the strait remains open to international shipping but warned that vessels associated with the United States or its allies could face restrictions.
Araghchi also dismissed the possibility of direct talks with Washington aimed at ending the conflict. According to him, the United States and Israel initiated the war with joint attacks on Feb. 28 during indirect diplomatic discussions over Iran’s nuclear program. He further said Tehran had no intention of attempting to recover enriched uranium that was buried under rubble during earlier U.S. and Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities.
While Washington has pushed for a coordinated international naval effort, governments have responded cautiously, signaling concern about being drawn into the expanding confrontation.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he has been in communication with several countries mentioned by Trump and expressed confidence that China could help stabilize the situation by supporting efforts to reopen the strait to commercial traffic.
Officials in Beijing, however, offered only general statements about the importance of maintaining stable energy supplies. Liu Pengyu said all parties share responsibility for ensuring uninterrupted energy flows and noted that China would continue communicating with relevant governments to help reduce tensions.
In Europe, the government of Keir Starmer confirmed that the British prime minister discussed the shipping crisis with Trump during a phone conversation on Sunday. The two leaders emphasized the importance of restoring safe maritime routes through the strait to prevent further disruption to global trade. Starmer also spoke separately with Canada’s prime minister about the issue.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it had taken note of Trump’s appeal but stopped short of pledging any military participation, stating only that Seoul would continue coordinating with Washington and closely monitor developments.
Attention is now turning to an upcoming meeting between Trump and Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister of Japan, scheduled for Thursday at the White House. Observers expect the U.S. president to directly request Japanese naval support during the talks.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron has indicated that France is exploring the possibility of an international escort mission for commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Macron said such an initiative would likely involve partners across Europe and Asia, including India, but emphasized that the operation could only proceed once conditions on the ground allow for it.
Germany signaled reluctance to join any military effort tied to the conflict. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said his country was not preparing to become directly involved in the fighting, underscoring broader European caution about entering the conflict.
As diplomatic discussions continue, global energy authorities are taking steps to counter rising oil prices. The International Energy Agency announced that emergency petroleum reserves will begin flowing into global markets in what it described as the largest coordinated release of strategic oil stocks ever undertaken.
The agency said the total release would reach nearly 412 million barrels, slightly higher than the previously announced figure of 400 million. Asian member countries plan to begin releasing their reserves immediately, while supplies from Europe and the Americas are expected to enter the market toward the end of March.
Even as governments attempt to stabilize energy markets, the military conflict continues to intensify across the region.
Several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, reported new missile or drone attacks over the weekend. The strikes followed an Iranian warning calling for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time Tehran has threatened infrastructure in a neighboring country that is not directly linked to U.S. military operations.
Iran has accused Washington of launching recent airstrikes on Kharg Island — home to its main oil export terminal — from bases in the UAE, though it has not presented evidence supporting the claim.
Iranian officials have warned that if their own energy infrastructure continues to be targeted, Tehran will retaliate against oil and economic facilities connected to the United States.
The United States Central Command declined to comment on Iran’s allegation, while Anwar Gargash rejected the claim. Gulf governments that host American military bases have repeatedly insisted that their territory is not being used to launch attacks against Iran.
Since the war began, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward Gulf countries, causing significant economic disruption and damage despite the interception of many projectiles by air defense systems.
Tehran maintains that it is targeting American assets, though several strikes have reportedly hit civilian locations, including airports and oil facilities.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to rise.
Iranian attacks across Gulf states have killed at least a dozen civilians, most of them migrant workers. Inside Iran, the International Committee of the Red Cross said more than 1,300 people have been killed since the start of the war.
Iran’s Health Ministry reported that the dead include 223 women and 202 children. Journalists touring damaged neighborhoods in Tehran on Sunday saw the aftermath of strikes that hit residential areas, including a police station and nearby apartment buildings where outer walls had been blown away.
Residents described the scenes as terrifying. One woman, Elham Movagghari, said those inside her building were fortunate to survive the blasts, adding that many people in the capital are now considering leaving the country.
In Israel, Iranian missile strikes have killed 12 people and injured many others since the conflict began, including three individuals wounded in attacks reported Sunday. The U.S. military has also suffered casualties, with at least 13 service members killed during the war, including six who died in a plane crash in Iraq last week.
The fighting has also spread to Lebanon, where clashes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah have intensified. Lebanese health authorities say at least 820 people have been killed since hostilities escalated. In just ten days, more than 800,000 residents — nearly one in seven people in the country — have been displaced.
Missile exchanges between Iran and Israel continued over the weekend. Several projectiles struck central Israel, including areas near Tel Aviv, damaging dozens of sites and igniting fires. Emergency responders from Magen David Adom reported shrapnel damage to residential buildings and large craters in city streets.
Israel’s military also accused Iran of deploying cluster munitions in its missile strikes, weapons designed to release multiple smaller explosives over a wide area and potentially evade some air defense systems.
With the conflict now entering a prolonged and unpredictable phase, world leaders are grappling with how to secure vital shipping routes and stabilize energy markets while avoiding a broader regional war.
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