Trump dials up the strain to safe Hormuz

[ad_1] Skip next section German defense minister rejects Trump's call for involvement in Strait of Hormuz 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 German protection minister rejects Trump's name for involvement in Strait of Hormuz

German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius rejected US President Donald Trump's calls for for army help within the conflict towards Iran.

"What does Donald Trump count on from a handful of European frigates within the Strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy can't handle alone? That is the query I discover myself asking," Pistorius stated in Berlin.

"There can be no army participation" from Germany however Berlin is ready to help diplomatic efforts to "to make sure protected passage by means of the Strait of Hormuz", he stated.

"It's not our conflict. We didn't begin it," Pistorius pressured. "We would like diplomatic options and a swift finish, however sending extra warships to the area will possible not contribute to that," he added.

Germany's fundamental duty is "for the jap flank and the Atlantic", the German minister stated, and "we keep dedicated to that however we will not be anyplace on the earth."

When requested about Trump's warning that NATO would face a "very unhealthy" future if its members failed to come back to Washington's support, Pistorius stated that he didn't anticipate NATO falling aside over these variations.

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Skip next section Iran war not NATO's affair — German government 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Iran conflict not NATO's affair — German authorities

The conflict in Iran doesn't concern the Western army alliance NATO , and Germany won't take part in utilizing army means to safe the Strait of Hormuz for business transport amid the battle, a German authorities spokesman stated on Monday.

"This conflict has nothing to do with NATO. This isn't NATO's conflict," Stefan Kornelius stated, saying the alliance was there to defend its members' territories and that there was no mandate for its deployment within the current case.

Click here to learn extra from our Germany information weblog.

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Skip next section Non-Iranian tanker transits Strait of Hormuz with transponder on — report 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Non-Iranian tanker transits Strait of Hormuz with transponder on — report

Regardless of main disruption to transport within the essential waterway from the US and Israel's conflict with Iran, a non-Iranian oil tanker transited the Strait of Hormuz with its computerized transponder system activated, based on ship-tracking knowledge.

"The Aframax tanker Karachi, carrying Abu Dhabi’s Das crude, has turn out to be the primary non-Iranian cargo to transit the chokepoint whereas broadcasting its AIS sign, suggesting that choose shipments could also be receiving negotiated protected passage," monitor Marine Site visitors wrote on X.

The vessel was Pakistani-flagged and was en path to the South Asian nation, based on Blomberg information company.

World oil costs have surged in response to Iran's assaults on transport within the Strait of Hormuz and its strikes within the Gulf, in retaliation for the conflict launched towards Iran by the US and Israel.

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Skip next section Greece out, Denmark weighs options in Hormuz Strait 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Greece out, Denmark weighs choices in Hormuz Strait

A Greek authorities spokesman has stated the nation won't participate in any army operations within the Strait of Hormuz, based on Reuters.

In the meantime, Denmark’s Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated Copenhagen should "stay open" to contemplate contributing to securing the strait.

"Denmark is a seafaring nation and has a transparent curiosity in preserving free navigation open," he stated.

In response to Rasmussen, no determination has been made, however he plans to debate choices with different EU officers.

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Skip next section Starmer says UK working with allies on plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Starmer says UK working with allies on plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Britain is working with allies on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation within the Center East, based on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer .

"Finally, we have now to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to make sure stability within the (oil) market. That isn't a easy process," Starmer instructed reporters.

"So we're working with all of our allies, together with our European companions, to deliver collectively a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the area as shortly as attainable and ease the financial affect," he stated, including that it will not be a NATO mission.

Starmer additionally stated the UK "won't be drawn into the broader conflict" within the Center East.

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Skip next section China silent on Trump's military request for strait 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 China silent on Trump's army request for strait

China has sidestepped a request for touch upon US President Donald Trump's name for army help to assist reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Requested about Trump's remarks at a every day briefing in Beijing, Overseas Ministry spokesman Lin Jian as an alternative repeated China's name for de-escalation, saying the "tense scenario" within the strait had "disrupted worldwide commerce routes for items and power."

Trump has stated in an interview with Monetary Occasions that the US needed a solution from China earlier than his deliberate journey to Beijing in about two weeks. He urged he may "delay" the assembly with President Xi Jinping if Beijing doesn't assist reopen the waterway.

The feedback come after US and Chinese delegation wrapped up trade talks in Paris on Monday.

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Skip next section Kallas says it is in EU's interest to reopen Strait of Hormuz 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Kallas says it's in EU's curiosity to reopen Strait of Hormuz

In response to EU prime diplomat Kaja Kallas, the European Union is contemplating two varieties of naval missions to assist reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"It's in our curiosity to maintain the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we're additionally discussing what we are able to do on this regard from the European aspect," she stated forward of a gathering of the bloc’s international ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Kallas stated the EU may both increase its Aspides naval mission to guard transport within the Crimson Sea and Persian Gulf or kind a "coalition of the keen," during which member nations would contribute army capability on an advert hoc foundation.

Kallas stated she mentioned with United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres the concept of replicating the 2022-2023 Black Sea grain deal reached during the war in Ukraine to unencumber the transport of oil and gasoline by means of the Strait of Hormuz throughout wartime.

"I had talks with Antonio Guterres about whether or not it was attainable to even have the similar type of initiative like we had (with) the Black Sea Initiative," she stated.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz hurts the worldwide financial system and helps Russia fund its conflict. It's affecting our companions within the area and is harmful for international power provides," Kallas pressured.

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Skip next section Israel says it launched 'wide-scale wave of strikes' across Iran 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Israel says it launched 'wide-scale wave of strikes' throughout Iran

Israel's army introduced that it had launched a brand new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital, Tehran, in addition to on the town of Shiraz within the south and Tabriz within the northwest.

"The IDF has simply begun a wide-scale wave of strikes concentrating on infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz", the army stated in an announcement.

Iranian media shops have additionally reported a brand new wave of assaults in Tehran. In response to the Fars Information Company, explosions had been heard within the jap a part of the town.

The state-run SNN tv community reported explosions in a number of areas throughout the metropolis. It was not instantly clear what was focused.

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Skip next section Germany does not see role for NATO in Strait of Hormuz 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Germany doesn't see position for NATO in Strait of Hormuz

Germany doesn't see a task for NATO in addressing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, German Overseas Minister Johann Wadephul stated in Brussels.

"I do not see that NATO has made any determination on this course or may assume duty for the Strait of Hormuz. If that had been the case, then the NATO our bodies would handle it accordingly," the Reuters information company quoted him as saying forward of EU international ministers assembly.

Wadephul additionally referred to as for extra data from the US and Israel concerning the longer term course of the conflict towards Iran. "Firstly, will probably be vital for the US and Israel to make clear after they take into account the army aims of their operation to have been achieved. We want extra readability on this," he stated.

In the meantime, a spokesman for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the conflict within the Center East, which started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has "nothing to do with NATO" and is "not NATO's conflict."

"NATO is an alliance for the protection of territory" and "the mandate to deploy NATO is missing" within the present scenario, Stefan Kornelius stated at an everyday press briefing.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump elevated strain on European allies to assist shield the strait, warning that NATO faces a "very unhealthy" future if its members fail to come back to Washington's support.

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Skip next section Cyprus says that EU meetings will resume in Cyprus from April 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Cyprus says that EU conferences will resume in Cyprus from April

Cypriot Power Minister Michael Damianos introduced that each one EU casual councils can be held as deliberate in Cyprus between April and June.

"Issues are all again to regular. All enterprise, together with your enterprise resumes and all casual councils to be held in Cyprus between April and June can be held within the regular method", Damianos stated forward of EU international ministers assembly in Brussels.

Within the wake of a drone assault on a British air base amid the continued Iran disaster earlier this month, Cyprus — at the moment holding the EU's rotating presidency — has made the choice to transition all March conferences to on-line or postponed standing.

In response to Cypriot authorities, the assault was launched utilizing an Iranian-made Shahed drone, almost certainly operated by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group based mostly in Lebanon.

A Cyprus village feels the affect of the Iran conflict To view this video please allow JavaScript, and take into account upgrading to an internet browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section Woman lightly injured in Iranian missile attack on Israel 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Girl calmly injured in Iranian missile assault on Israel

In response to Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), a girl was calmly injured on account of Iran’s ballistic missile assault on central Israel .

MDA wrote on X that within the metropolis of Rishon LeZion, which lies simply south of Tel Aviv, its medics and paramedics handled and evacuated a girl in her thirties with minor accidents to the Shamir Medical Middle within the close by suburb of Be'er Ya'akov.

In the meantime, the Israeli Ministry of Well being wrote on X that, as of Monday morning, 3,369 folks had been evacuated to hospitals because the begin of the nation's operations towards Iran, which Israeli authorities dub "Operation Lion's Roar."

Of these, 81 are at the moment hospitalized. Of these hospitalized, one is in vital situation, seven are in critical situation, 14 are in average situation, and 59 are coping with gentle accidents.

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Skip next section Saudi Arabia says it intercepted more than 60 drones 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Saudi Arabia says it intercepted greater than 60 drones

In response to the Saudi Protection Ministry, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed greater than 60 drones in a single day within the oil-rich jap a part of the nation.

The most important oil fields and services within the nation lie across the jap metropolis of Abqaiq. They've been focused a number of occasions within the war with Iran .

The ministry additionally introduced a brand new service that enables residents to report suspicious actions within the sky. This function is a part of a cell software for citizen providers in Saudi Arabia.

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Skip next section 5 women rejoin Iranian football team after withdrawing asylum claims in Australia 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 5 ladies rejoin Iranian soccer workforce after withdrawing asylum claims in Australia

A fifth member of the Iranian ladies's soccer workforce has withdrawn her asylum declare in Australia and rejoined the remainder of the squad in Malaysia.

The workforce flew from Sydney on March 10 after being eradicated from the Ladies’s Asian Cup in Australia. Nevertheless, they left behind six gamers and a help employees member who had accepted protection visas .

4 gamers and the employees member have since rejoined the workforce in Kuala Lumpur; the newest arrived on Monday. No causes have been given for the change of heart , however the Iranian diaspora in Australia blames strain from Tehran.

Matt Thistlethwaite, the Australian Assistant Minister for Overseas Affairs, instructed the Sky Information Australia broadcaster that the federal government respects the choice of those that selected to return to Iran, and can proceed to supply help to the 2 members who're nonetheless in Australia.

He stated that those that stayed in Australia have been moved to an undisclosed protected location the place they're receiving help from the federal government and the Iranian diaspora neighborhood.

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Skip next section Israel says it destroyed plane used by Iran's late supreme leader 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 Israel says it destroyed airplane utilized by Iran's late supreme chief

The Israeli army introduced that it destroyed a airplane utilized by Iran's late supreme chief, Ali Khamenei, at Tehran 's Mehrabad Airport in a single day.

In response to the Israel Protection Forces (IDF), the plane was utilized by senior Iranian officers and army figures for home and worldwide journey, in addition to for coordinating with proxy teams.

Mehrabad is considered one of Tehran's oldest airports and at the moment operates home and regional flights. It shouldn't be solely the busiest civilian home airport but in addition a dual-use facility that homes air drive belongings.

Khamenei was killed in an Israeli air strike on February 28 .

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Skip next section UAE's Fujairah port comes under attack again, operations suspended 03/16/2026 March 16, 2026 UAE's Fujairah port comes below assault once more, operations suspended

Oil loading operations on the jap Fujairah port of United Arab Emirates (UAE) had been suspended on Monday after a drone assault sparked a hearth within the emirate's petroleum industrial zone, two sources instructed Reuters information company.

"A big fireplace broke out within the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone on account of being focused by a drone, with no accidents reported," Fujairah authorities stated.

Civil protection groups had been working to comprise the blaze and no casualties had been reported, the Fujairah authorities's media workplace stated.

Fujairah, on the Gulf of Oman exterior the Strait of Hormuz, is a key export hub for the UAE's Murban crude. The town is the capital of the emirate of the identical identify, which is likely one of the UAE's seven emirates, with the 2 most populous being Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The disruption follows as operations at Fujairah had resumed on Sunday after one other drone strike over the weekend.

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