United States President Donald Trump urged other countries to deploy warships alongside the United States to protect oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian attacks and threats have nearly halted traffic through the vital waterway. The route normally carries about one fifth of global oil supplies, and disruptions have driven petroleum prices up sharply, shaking the global economy.

The appeal comes amid an intensifying war between United States and Israeli forces and Iran, which began on February 28. Despite heavy bombardment and strikes on thousands of targets, Iran has continued launching missiles and drones at Israel, Gulf energy facilities, and United States-linked sites across the region. Explosions and damage were reported in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, according to official figures, and millions have been displaced. The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah has caused hundreds of deaths and mass displacement. Global sporting events in the region have been cancelled, underscoring the widening impact of the war.