TRUMP CALL TO COUNTRIES BRINGS NO PROMISES
No commitment for warships to protect Strait of Hormuz
A cargo ship sails Sunday in the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates.
A man photographs the rubble of buildings destroyed in an Israeli airstrike Sunday in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon.
MIDDLE EAST
CAIRO — U.S. President Donald Trump's appeal to other countries to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz "open and safe" brought no commitments Sunday as oil prices soar during the Iran war.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS that Tehran was "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" was allowed to pass, without providing details.
Iran said the strait is open to all except the United States and its allies.
"We don't see any reason why we should talk with Americans" about finding a way to end the war, Araghchi added, noting Israel and the U.S. started the fighting with coordinated attacks Feb. 28 during indirect U.S.-Iran talks. The talks focused on Iran's nuclear program, and Araghchi said Tehran had "no plan to recover" enriched uranium that is under rubble following U.S. and Israeli attacks last year.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC he was "in dialogue" with some of the countries and expected China "will be a constructive partner" in reopening the strait through which one-fifth of global oil exports normally pass.
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.
A spokesperson for China's embassy to the U.S., Liu Pengyu, said, "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 noted Trump's call and "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 Thursday at the White House.
France previously said it was working with countries on a possible international mission to escort ships through the strait but stressed it must be when fighting subsides.
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."
Gulf Arab states reported new missile and drone attacks a day after Iran called for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates — the first time it threatened a neighboring country's non-U.S. assets. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE said they worked to intercept projectiles.
Iran accused the U.S. of launching Friday's strikes on Kharg Island, home to Iran's primary oil terminal, from the UAE, without providing evidence.
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 denied allowing their land or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.
Iran threatened to attack the region's U.S.-linked "oil, economic and energy infrastructures" if the Islamic Republic's oil infrastructure is hit.
The Islamic Republic fired hundreds of missiles and drones at the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman during the war, causing significant damage and rattling economies even as most were intercepted. Tehran says it targets U.S. assets, even as Iranian strikes are reported at civilian sites such as airports and oil fields.
Iranian strikes 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 were killed. Iran's Health Ministry said 223 women and 202 children were 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 were stripped away.
"God had mercy on all of us," said Elham Movagghari, a resident.
In Israel, 12 people were killed by Iranian missile fire and more were injured, including three Sunday. At least 13 U.S. military members were killed, six in a plane crash in Iraq last week.
At least 820 people were killed in Lebanon, according to its Health Ministry, since Iranbacked Hezbollah started hitting Israel and Israel responded with strikes and sent additional troops into southern Lebanon.
In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people were displaced.
In Beirut, displaced families fixed tents battered by wind and rain. Fadi Younes, displaced from the southern suburbs, said his mattresses and blankets were soaked. "We don't know where this will end," he said.
In the southern suburb of Haret Hreik, there was scarcely a person in sight when crews arrived to clear the streets of rubble.
Israel said it continued to strike Iran, and Iran fired missiles toward Israel.
Several strikes hit central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, where they caused damaged 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.
