Iran warned other countries Sunday against joining the war with the United States and Israel after Donald Trump urged world powers to send warships to escort oil tankers through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Energy prices have soared across the world since Iran responded to the U.S.-Israeli attacks by threatening shipping sailing through the Hormuz Strait, which connects major Gulf oil and gas exporters to the global market.
Trump responded Saturday by urging "China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and others" to send ships to escort tankers, while the U.S. military will continue to pound drone, boat and missile launch sites in Iranian territory on the north shore of the strait.
But the countries he listed have so far given only a guarded reception to the idea and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a call with French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, warned them to "refrain from any action that could lead to escalation and expansion of the conflict."
The U.K. Defence Ministry was non-committal. "As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," it said.
