Iran warns nations against joining US-led efforts to secure Gulf shipping lanes as Trump urges allies to send warships for tanker protection.
Iran cautioned countries against joining US and Israeli efforts to secure Gulf shipping lanes after President Donald Trump urged allies to send warships to escort tankers, reported Agence France-Presse.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the war would only end once reparations were paid and guarantees were given that it would not be repeated. He accused Arab neighbors of allowing US bases on their soil to launch attacks, warning of escalation if foreign powers intervened.
Energy prices have surged 40 percent since Iran threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of global oil and gas exports. Mr. Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to join US escorts, but responses from those governments were cautious.
Britain indicated that it was discussing options with allies, while Japan noted legal limits on deploying its navy. South Korea stated it was monitoring Trump's remarks. Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep Hormuz closed, though Mr. Trump questioned whether he was alive.
Despite the conflict, Tehran residents observed signs of normality, with traffic returning, cafes reopening, and stalls in the Tajrish bazaar preparing for Nowruz. Bank Melli's online services remained disrupted, but cash withdrawals resumed.
Iranian state media reported that Zahra Ghanbari, captain of the women's football team, withdrew her asylum bid, becoming the fifth player to reverse course. Rights groups accuse authorities of pressuring athletes abroad. The health ministry stated that more than 1,200 people have been killed, while the UN estimates 3.2 million displaced. The Pentagon reported that US and Israeli forces have struck more than 15,000 targets.
