Several US allies rebuffed Donald Trump's call on Monday to send warships to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, drawing criticism from the US president, who accused Western partners of ingratitude after decades of support.
The US-Israeli war on Iran is in its third week with no end in sight, largely shutting the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flow, raising energy prices and fears of inflation.
A number of US partners including Germany, Spain and Italy said they had no immediate plans to send ships to help reopen the strategic waterway, which Iran has effectively shut with drones and naval mines.
"We lack the mandate from the United Nations, the European Union or Nato required under the Basic Law," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin, adding that Washington and Israel had not consulted Germany before launching the war: "That is why the question of how Germany might become militarily involved here does not arise."
Trump, speaking at a news conference in Washington, said many countries had told him they were prepared to help, but voiced frustration with some long-standing allies hosting large numbers of US troops: "Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren't. 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 STILL HAS 'THOUSANDS' OF TARGETS IN IRAN
Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters there were detailed operational plans for the next three weeks in Iran, and other plans extending further.
Israel has said it wants to weaken Iran's capacity to threaten it, striking ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities and the security apparatus, and that it still has thousands of targets to hit.
"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," Shoshani said.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had not asked for a ceasefire or exchanged messages with the US, according to Iran's semi-official Student News Network.
The head of a UN investigation said in Geneva that an Israeli air strike on Evin last June was a war crime that had killed 80 people including a child and eight women, and that the latest war could lead Iran to crack down even harder on dissent.
One Tehran resident told Reuters that there had been no internet overnight and Iranians felt isolated from the world.
"People are being killed," Shahnaz, 62, said via WhatsApp. "Just days before Nowruz (Iranian New Year, on March 20), but people are not in the mood to celebrate. When will this end?”
Asked if she supported the Islamic Republic, Shahnaz said: "No, I don’t. How can I? They killed my granddaughter in (January's) protests. We want this regime to go. We want this misery to end."
Reuters
