Iran has issued a stern warning to other countries against intervening in its ongoing war with the United States and Israel, following calls by former US President Donald Trump for world powers to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Arabic-language news outlet Al Araby Al Jadeed that the conflict will only end once Iran is certain s will not recur and reparations are paid. He recalled last year’s 14-day air war in June when Israel carried out strikes on Iranian targets, briefly involving US forces.
Energy prices have surged globally as Iran threatens shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage handling about 20 percent of global oil and gas exports. Trump urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to send ships to protect tankers, while US forces continue strikes on Iranian drone, boat, and missile launch sites north of the strait.
However, responses from the countries were cautious. The UK Ministry of Defence said discussions with allies were ongoing, and Minister for Energy Security Ed Miliband stressed that de-escalation must be the focus. South Korea and Japan indicated high legal and strategic barriers to deploying their navies.
Araghchi, in a call with French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, urged nations to avoid actions that could escalate the conflict. Tehran reiterated that US bases in some Arab countries are being used to launch s, according to the Iranian minister.
Despite heightened tensions, daily life in Tehran continues relatively normally. Cafes and shops have reopened, traffic has increased, and residents are preparing for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Meanwhile, some Iranian athletes who had sought asylum abroad have withdrawn applications and returned home under government pressure.
Iran reports more than 1,200 deaths from US and Israeli strikes, with up to 3.2 million displaced. The Pentagon claims over 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit. Both sides remain entrenched as energy markets react sharply to continued threats around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
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