President Donald Trump said on 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 per cent of its oil from the strait, while the US 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.More Iranian missile strikes hit IsraelMarch 16, 2026 8:36 amCairo: 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. APMore missile and drone attacks are reportedMarch 16, 2026 8:36 amCairo: 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-US 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. APCountries are cautious after Trump’s callMarch 16, 2026 8:36 amCairo: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Jattvibe 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 US, 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 US 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. AP