Trump says that he's asked 'about 7' countries to join coalition to
police Iran's Strait of Hormuz
[March 16, 2026]
By SAM METZ, WILL WEISSERT, JULIA FRANKEL and CARA ANNA
CAIRO (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has demanded
about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open,
but his appeals have brought no commitments as oil prices soar during
the Iran war.
The president declined to name the countries heavily reliant on Middle
East crude that the administration is negotiating with to join a
coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the world’s
traded oil normally flows.
“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own
territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said about the
strait, claiming the shipping channel is not something the United States
needs because of its own access to oil. Trump spoke while answering
reporters’ questions as he flew back to Washington from Florida aboard
Air Force One.
Trump said China gets about 90% of its oil from the strait, while the
U.S. gets a minimal amount. He declined to discuss whether China will
join the 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 Britain.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier told CBS that Tehran has
been “approached by a number of countries” seeking safe passage for
their vessels, “and this is up to our military to decide.” He said a
group of vessels from “different countries” had been allowed to pass,
without providing details.
Iran has said the strait is open to all except the United States and its
allies.
Araghchi added that “we don’t see any reason why we should talk with
Americans” about finding a way to end the war, noting that Israel and
the U.S. started the fighting with coordinated attacks on Feb. 28 during
indirect U.S.-Iran talks on Iran's nuclear program. He also said Tehran
had “no plan to recover” the enriched uranium that is under rubble
following U.S. and Israeli attacks last year.
Countries are cautious after Trump's call
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC earlier Sunday that he has
been “in dialogue” with some of the countries Trump had mentioned
previously, and said he expected China “will be a constructive partner”
in reopening the strait.
But countries made no promises.
Britain said Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday discussed with Trump
the importance of reopening the strait "to end the disruption to global
shipping,” and spoke with Canada’s prime minister about it separately.
Aboard Air Force One, Trump specifically named Starmer, who he said
initially declined to put 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 to the U.S., Liu Pengyu, said
previously that “all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable
and unimpeded energy supply” and that China would “strengthen
communication with relevant parties” for de-escalation.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it “takes note” of Trump’s call and
that it “will closely coordinate and carefully review” the situation
with the U.S.
Expectations are high that Trump will ask Japan directly when Prime
Minister Sanae Takaichi meets him on Thursday at the White House.
France previously said it is working with countries — President Emmanuel
Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible
international mission to escort ships through the strait but has
stressed it must be when “the circumstances permit,” when fighting has
subsided.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul of Germany, which 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 start flowing to global
markets,” the International Energy Agency said Sunday, describing the
collective action to lower prices “by far the largest ever.”
It updated last week’s announcement of 400 million barrels to nearly 412
million. Asian member countries plan to release stocks “immediately,”
and reserves from Europe and the Americas will be released “from the end
of March.”
Trump didn’t directly answer whether his administration is talking about
selling oil futures as a way to cap surging oil 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.
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Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an
Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, early Sunday, March 15, 2026.
(AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
More missile and drone attacks are reported
Gulf Arab states including the United Arab Emirates, 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’s non-U.S. assets.
Dubai temporarily suspended flights at its international airport —
the world's busiest — after a drone hit a fuel tank and caused a
fire. Civil defense crews contained the blaze and no injuries were
reported, authorities said.
Tehran has claimed that Friday's U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, home
to Iran’s primary oil terminal, were launched from the UAE, without
providing evidence. It has threatened to attack U.S.-linked “oil,
economic and energy infrastructures” if its oil infrastructure is
hit.
U.S. Central Command said it had no response to Iran’s claim, and
Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, rejected
it. Gulf countries that host U.S. bases have denied allowing their
land or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.
Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf
neighbors during the war, causing significant damage and rattling
economies even as most are intercepted. Tehran says it targets U.S.
assets, even as Iranian strikes are reported at civilian sites 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 for 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, the
judiciary’s official news agency.
Iran’s government on Sunday showed journalists buildings damaged by
strikes in Tehran on Friday. A police station was hit and
surrounding buildings were damaged. Some apartments’ outer walls had
been stripped away.
“God had mercy on all of us,” said Elham Movagghari, a resident.
Other Iranians are leaving the country.
In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire and
more have been injured, including three on Sunday. At least 13 U.S.
military members have been killed, six in a plane crash in Iraq last
week.
At least 820 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to its
Health Ministry, since Iran-backed Hezbollah hit Israel and Israel
responded with strikes and sent additional troops into southern
Lebanon. In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people — nearly one out
of every seven residents of Lebanon — have been displaced.
More Iranian missile strikes hit Israel
Israel’s military said early Monday that Iran launched missiles
toward Israel.
Earlier, several strikes hit central Israel and the Tel Aviv area,
where they caused damage at 23 sites and sparked a small fire. Magen
David Adom, Israel’s rescue service, released video showing a large
crater in a street 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 across multiple
locations. ___
This version corrects to say Araghchi was speaking to CBS, not NBC
as previously reported.
___
Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Weissert from aboard Air
Force One, Frankel from Jerusalem and Anna from Lowville, New York.
Contributing were Associated Press journalists Darlene Superville,
Fatima Hussein and Tia Goldenberg in Washington; Sally Abou AlJoud
and Fadi Tawil in Beirut; John Leicester in Paris; and Christopher
Weber in Los Angeles.
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