Several U.S. allies rebuffed Donald Trump’s name on Monday (March 16, 2026) to send warships to escort tankers via the Strait of Hormuz, drawing criticism from the U.S. President, who accused Western partners of ingratitude after a protracted time of give a enhance to.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is in its third week without a consequence in thought. The serious Strait of Hormuz, at some stage in which 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied pure gas float, remains largely closed off, elevating energy prices and fears of inflation.
The warfare has already imposed economic prices on U.S. allies, who weren’t consulted before the airstrikes on Iran and who personal continued months of harsh criticism and bellicose threats from Mr. Trump since he returned to workplace.
Iran-Israel war updates on March 16, 2026
A bunch of U.S. partners, at the side of Germany, Spain and Italy, stated they had no fast plans to send ships to abet reopen the strategic waterway, which Iran has successfully shut with drones and naval mines.
“We lack the mandate from the United Worldwide locations, the European Union or NATO required below the Traditional Law,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in Berlin, adding that Washington and Israel had no longer consulted Germany before launching the war.
Mr. Trump, speaking at a White House event in Washington, stated many countries had urged him they had been ready to abet, but voiced frustration with some prolonged-standing allies.
“Some are very it, and a few aren’t,” he stated, with out providing specifics. “Some are countries that we’ve helped for a large selection of, many years. We’ve safe them from gruesome launch air sources, and so they weren’t that eager. And the stage of enthusiasm issues to me.”
Israel peaceable has thousands of targets in Iran
Israel stated on Monday (March 16, 2026) it had drawn up detailed plans for no longer no longer up to three extra weeks of war because it pounded sites across Iran overnight, while Iranian drone assaults temporarily shut Dubai airport and hit a key oil facility within the United Arab Emirates.
Israel troops pushed into new parts of southern Lebanon, segment of an rising operation after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.
In a joint assertion, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain warned that any “essential Israeli floor offensive would personal devastating humanitarian penalties and might possibly possibly well consequence in a prolonged warfare,” and that such an operation “will personal to peaceable be averted.”
Israel has stated it desires to weaken Iran’s capability to threaten it, inserting ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear products and companies and the safety apparatus, and that it peaceable has thousands of targets to hit.
“We prefer to make certain they’re as outdated as you can even consider, this regime, and that we degrade all their capabilities, all parts and all wings of their security establishment,” Israeli army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated.
Iran’s Islamic Modern Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it might possibly possibly possibly aim U.S. industrial products and companies within the Center East and informed other folks living near U.S.-owned plants to leave.
Iran moreover replied to Trump’s threat that he can also attack oil products and companies on Kharg Island, the country’s important oil hub, if Tehran does no longer reopen the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces destroyed army targets on Kharg on Friday.
A spokesperson for the military, Abolfazl Shekarchi, stated Iran would aim oil and gas products and companies in any country from which U.S. assaults had been launched on Kharg Island.
International Minister Abbas Araqchi stated Tehran had no longer asked for a ceasefire or exchanged messages with the U.S., in accordance to Iran’s semi-legit Student News Network.
In a post on X, Araqchi moreover stated some “neighbouring states” that host U.S. forces and enable assaults on Iran had been actively encouraging the killing of Iranians.
He stated 200 childhood had been amongst the tons of of Iranian civilians killed in U.S. or Israeli bombings.
Rescue workers in Tehran worked to pull other folks from the wreckage of a building in what an Iranian Purple Crescent help employee stated modified into as soon as an fully residential alleyway.
Israel claims strikes on Iran’s House programme
Israel stated its air power had struck sites linked to Iran’s home program, at the side of destroying a examine facility in Tehran serious about rising a satellite tv for computer launched in 2024.
One Tehran resident urged Reuters that there had been no cyber web overnight and Iranians felt isolated from the world.
“Folk are being killed,” Shahnaz, 62, stated by approach of WhatsApp. “Factual days before Nowruz (Iranian New 365 days, on March 20), but other folks are no longer within the temper to celebrate. When will this cease?”
Asked if she supported the Islamic Republic, Shahnaz stated: “No, I don’t. How can I? They killed my granddaughter in [January’s] protests. We prefer this regime to creep. We prefer this misery to complete.”
In Tel Aviv, air raid sirens sounded late into the evening, warning of incoming Iranian missiles and underscoring that, after better than two weeks of war, Tehran peaceable retained the capability to make prolonged-range assaults. The IRGC stated earlier that Iran had launched strikes on areas in Tel Aviv, the U.S. Al Dhafra Air Heinous in Abu Dhabi, the U.S. naval harmful in Bahrain and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Heinous.
On the UAE’s wing alongside the Gulf of Oman, oil loading operations on the port of Fujairah partly resumed after an Iranian drone strike. Fujairah is a key exit level for the UAE’s Murban crude – a volume an identical to roughly 1% of world request.
Flights at Dubai Worldwide Airport, one of many world’s busiest, had been suspended for several hours after a drone strike on a nearby gas storage facility sent plumes of dark smoke into the sky. Saudi Arabia intercepted 34 drones in its eastern remark in one hour, remark media stated. No accidents had been reported in both incident.
Despite the turbulence, oil prices , which had been above $100 a barrel, fell and shares rallied after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged CNBC the U.S. modified into as soon as “gorgeous” to let some Iranian gas vessels via the strait, and believed Indian and Chinese language tankers had moreover passed via.
