Iran warns against wider war as Trump asks allies to escort ships Siya Tsewu Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:00 TEHRAN - Iran warned more countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel on Sunday, after President Donald Trump urged world powers to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint in the Gulf. Energy prices have soared across the world since Iran responded to the US-Israeli campaign by threatening shipping sailing though the strait, which connects major Gulf oil and gas exporters to the global market. Trump responded on Saturday by urging "China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and others" to send ships to escort tankers, while the US 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". AFP | SAUL LOEB The UK ministry of defence was non-committal. "As we've said previously, we are
