Trump urges other nations' warships to protect oil route

Manama - US President Donald Trump called for other nations' warships to help protect world oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, still virtually blocked Sunday by the threat of Iranian attacks.
Despite sustaining heavy bombardments since US-Israeli forces launched a war against Iran on February 28, Tehran has defied Trump's assertion that its military capability has been '100%' destroyed.
Iran's attacks and threats have nearly halted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route normally used for one-fifth of world oil supplies, sending petroleum prices soaring 40 percent and roiling the global economy.
Its military has deployed drones and missiles against Israel, Gulf energy facilities, and other targets across the Middle East region.
AFP journalists heard blasts in Bahrain's capital Manama and saw black smoke belching from a major oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates port city of Fujairah. Security sources said the US embassy in Iraq was struck by a drone.
'Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,' Trump posted on social media Saturday.
'Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area,' he added.
'In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water.'
US forces struck Iran's Kharg Island on Friday -- from which nearly all of the country's oil exports flow -- with Trump saying they had 'obliterated every MILITARY target' while sparing energy facilities.
Iran threatened US-linked oil and energy firms would be 'turned into a pile of ashes' if its oil facilities were hit.
More than 1,200 people have been killed by US and Israeli strikes, according to Iranian health ministry figures that could not be independently verified.
The UN refugee agency says up to 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran, most of them fleeing the capital and other cities to seek safety.
The Pentagon says more than 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit by US and Israeli forces.
US media reported that the Pentagon has dispatched the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and around 2,500 Marines to the region.