CAIRO: US President Donald Trump’s appeal to China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and secure” drew no commitments on Sunday as oil prices soared amid the Iran war.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that “several countries have contacted” Tehran and asked for safe passage for their ships, “and it is up to our military to make that decision.” He said without giving details that a group of ships from “different countries” had been allowed to pass.
Iran has said the strait, through which one-fifth of global oil exports typically pass, is open to all except the United States and its allies.Araghchi said, “We see no reason why we should talk with the Americans” about finding a way to end the war, noting that Israel and the US began the fighting with coordinated attacks on February 28 during indirect US-Iran talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Araghchi also said Tehran has no plans to recover the enriched uranium buried in the debris following US and Israeli strikes last year.The country is alert on Trump’s call US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC that he is “talking” with some of the countries mentioned by Trump, and said he hopes China “will be a constructive partner” in reopening the strait.But the countries did not make any promises.Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China’s embassy in the US, said “ensuring stable and uninterrupted energy supply is the responsibility of all parties” and that China would “strengthen communication with relevant parties” to ease tensions.“We are looking intensely with our partners at what can be done, because it is so important that we reopen the strait,” UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told Sky News. He said ending the war was the “best and surest” way to do so.South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it “pays attention” to Trump’s call and that it would “closely coordinate and carefully review” the situation with the US.Expectations are high that Trump will ask Japan directly when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets him at the White House on Thursday.France has previously said it is working with countries — President Emmanuel Macron has mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait, but has stressed that this should happen when “circumstances permit,” when fighting has subsided.German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful, who was not mentioned in Trump’s call, told ARD television: “Will we soon be an active part of this conflict? No.” Meanwhile, emergency oil stocks “will soon begin to flow into global markets,” the International Energy Agency said on Sunday, describing the collective action to drive down prices as “the largest ever.” It updated last week’s announcement of 400 million barrels to about 412 million. Asian member states plan to release stocks “immediately”, and reserves from Europe and the US will be released “from the end of March”. More missile and drone attacks are reported Gulf Arab states 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 neighboring country non-U.S. Properties.Tehran accused the United States of launching attacks on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil terminal from the United Arab Emirates, on Friday without providing evidence. It has threatened to attack “oil, economic and energy infrastructure” linked to the US if its oil infrastructure is affected.US Central Command said it had no comment on Iran’s claim and Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, rejected it. Gulf countries that host US bases have refused to allow their land or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at its Arab Gulf neighbors during the war, causing significant damage and decimating economies, while most have been intercepted. Tehran says it targets US assets, while Iranian attacks have been reported on civilian sites such as airports and oil fields.The war death toll has risen across the region Iranian attacks on Gulf countries have killed at least a dozen civilians, most of them migrant workers.The International Committee of the Red Cross in Iran said more than 1,300 people had been killed. Iran’s Health Ministry said the dead included 223 women and 202 children, according to the judiciary’s official news agency Mizan.Iran’s government on Sunday shows journalists buildings damaged in Friday’s attack in Tehran. A police station was attacked and surrounding buildings were damaged. The outer walls of some apartments were removed.“God has mercy on all of us,” said Elham Movaghari, a resident. Other Iranians are leaving the country.In Israel, an Iranian missile attack has killed 12 people and injured more, including three on Sunday. At least 13 US military members, including six American soldiers, have been killed in a plane crash in Iraq last week.At least 820 people have been killed in Lebanon since Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel, according to the health ministry, and Israel responded to the attacks and sent additional troops to southern Lebanon. In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people – nearly one out of every seven Lebanon residents – have been displaced.More Iranian missile attacks on Israel Israel said it continued attacking Iran. Iran fired missiles towards Israel.Several attacks occurred in central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, where they caused damage at 23 locations and caused small fires. Israel’s rescue service, Magen David Adom, released video showing a large crater on a road and shrapnel damage to an apartment building.Israel’s military says Iran is firing cluster bombs that can evade some air defenses and scatter submunitions over multiple locations.