U.S. allies decline Trump’s call to send warships to Strait of Hormuz

Several U.S. allies rejected Donald Trump’s request on Monday to deploy warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting criticism from the U.S. president, who accused Western partners of showing little appreciation for decades of American support.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has entered its third week with no clear end in sight. The crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, remains largely closed. The disruption has pushed up energy prices and heightened fears of global inflation.

The conflict has already placed economic pressure on U.S. allies, many of whom say they were not consulted before airstrikes on Iran began. Since returning to office, Trump has also directed months of sharp criticism and threats toward several partner nations.

Countries including Germany, Spain and Italy said they currently have no plans to send naval vessels to help reopen the strategic waterway, which Iran has effectively blocked using drones and naval mines.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin that Germany lacks the legal authority to participate without approval from the United Nations, the European Union or NATO. He added that neither Washington nor Israel consulted Berlin before launching the war.

Speaking at a White House event, Trump said some nations had indicated willingness to help but expressed frustration with others.

“Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t,” he said, without naming countries. “Some ⁠are countries that we've helped for many, many years. We've protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren't that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to me.”

Israel said Monday it has prepared detailed plans for at least three more weeks of fighting after launching overnight strikes across Iran. Iranian drone attacks temporarily shut down Dubai airport and struck a major oil facility in the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli troops also moved into new areas of southern Lebanon as part of an expanding operation after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

In a joint statement, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain warned that any “significant Israeli ground offensive” could cause severe humanitarian consequences and risk prolonging the conflict. They said such an escalation must be avoided.

Israel says its objective is to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten the country by targeting ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities and security forces. Officials say thousands of potential targets remain.

“We want to make sure that they are as weak as possible, this regime, and that we degrade all their capabilities, all parts and all wings of their security establishment,” Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would target U.S. industrial facilities in the Middle East and urged civilians living near U.S.-owned plants to evacuate.

Tehran also responded to Trump’s warning that he could strike oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, Iran’s main export hub, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. U.S. forces destroyed military targets on Kharg on Friday.

Iranian armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said Iran would retaliate against oil and gas facilities in any country used to launch U.S. attacks on the island.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran has neither requested a ceasefire nor exchanged messages with Washington, according to the semi-official Student News Network.

In a post on X, Araqchi accused some neighboring countries that host U.S. forces of enabling attacks on Iran and effectively encouraging the killing of Iranian civilians.

He said hundreds of Iranian civilians, including about 200 children, have been killed in U.S. or Israeli airstrikes.

In Tehran, rescue crews continued searching through the rubble of a collapsed building in what an Iranian Red Crescent worker described as a fully residential alleyway.