By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its 16th day with heightened maritime tensions and expanded aerial strikes across the Middle East. President Donald Trump renewed calls for international allies to deploy naval assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump asserted that “The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” He added that the U.S. will coordinate with these nations “so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well” and that this “should have always been a team effort, and now it will be.” These comments follow the President’s recent claims that an international coalition is already forming to deploy naval forces to the region to ensure the strategic waterway remains accessible.
While the President expects a “team effort,” neither Beijing nor London has confirmed participation. Japan cited “high hurdles” due to its pacifist constitution, and South Korea stated it would make a decision only after a “careful review.” Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi clarified Tehran’s position on the waterway, stating, “It is only closed to American, Israeli ships and tankers, and not to others.” The economic impact is surfacing within the United States as AAA reports a 23% spike in U.S. gas prices since the war began.
Global Hesitation: China and the UK Respond to Trump’s Call
Following President Trump’s public expectation that “China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others” would contribute naval assets, key global powers have offered guarded responses. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to confirm any planned deployment, instead calling for an immediate end to hostilities. The embassy stated that “all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply,” adding that China will continue to play a “constructive role for deescalation and restoration of peace.”
Similarly, the British Ministry of Defense stopped short of a commitment, noting the UK is “currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options.” Other targeted allies have echoed this caution; Japan cited “high hurdles” due to its pacifist constitution, and South Korea stated it would make a decision only after a “careful review.” This wait-and-see approach from major world powers highlights the diplomatic friction between Trump’s “team effort” strategy and the cautious neutrality maintained by international capitals.
The African Stakes: Rising Costs and Economic Fragility
The ripple effects of the Hormuz crisis are felt acutely across Africa, where import-dependent nations like Ghana face severe economic shocks. In Ghana, the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies warns that local fuel prices could surge to GH¢17 per litre if the maritime blockade persists. Beyond the pump, the rising cost of shipping and energy threatens to reverse recent gains in inflation management across the continent. For many African households, this conflict is not a distant geopolitical struggle but a direct threat to the affordability of food, transport, and basic necessities.
Diplomacy Stalls Amid Leadership Uncertainty
President Trump signaled a firm stance against a ceasefire, telling global news outlets, “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet.” Sources familiar with the administration’s stance report that Trump has specifically rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to mediate diplomatic negotiations. Iran, in turn, has rejected any ceasefire talks until U.S. and Israeli airstrikes cease entirely. The President also questioned the status of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been absent from public view. “I don’t know if he’s even alive,” Trump remarked, adding, “I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender.”
Araghchi pushed back on these claims in an international press interview, denying that Khamenei was “wounded and disfigured.” However, Iranian state media has since referred to the new leader as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan War,” and reports suggest he may be recovering from leg and arm injuries sustained during the February 28 strike that killed his father.
The UN Plea: “Stop the Bombing”
As the war expands, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a desperate plea from Beirut, telling both sides to “Stop the fighting. Stop the bombing. There is no military solution.” Guterres noted that while Hezbollah drones and rockets targeted northern Israel, the subsequent Israeli response and blanket evacuation notices have rendered “large portions of Lebanon uninhabitable.” He emphasized that the Lebanese people “did not choose this war,” but were instead “dragged into it.”
French President Emmanuel Macron joined the call for restraint, urging Israel to “abandon any large-scale offensive and stop its massive strikes,” while calling on Hezbollah to “immediately halt its reckless escalation.” Tensions reached a breaking point on Friday when a UN peacekeeper in Mais el-Jebal was injured by Israeli fire. The IDF expressed regret, stating the fire “deviated from its trajectory” after troops perceived a threat, and confirmed the incident is under investigation.
Maritime Crisis and the “Dangerous Mission”
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that at least 17 vessels have been attacked in the region in the last two weeks, resulting in the death of at least one Indian national. Specific incidents include the March 11 strike on the container ship Mayuree Naree and a March 7 drone attack on offshore infrastructure. Policy experts warned that Trump’s plan to escort tankers is a “very dangerous mission” because the narrowness of the strait leaves “not enough reaction time” to prevent shore-based attacks. Major shipping firms, including Maersk and MSC, are already diverting vessels from the region.
The Israeli Air Campaign and Human Toll
Israel announced it has completed 400 waves of airstrikes on targets in Iran, including a Saturday barrage on 200 targets. The human cost of the war has escalated rapidly, with reports indicating over 2,000 deaths since the conflict began on February 28. Human rights organizations place the figure even higher, documenting up to 4,900 fatalities, including at least 480 civilians. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of two senior Iranian intelligence officials, Abdollah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, in a Friday strike on Tehran. Separately, an airstrike on a factory in Isfahan killed at least 15 people.
Aerial Combat and Regional Impacts
Projectiles reached central Israel early Sunday, resulting in two injuries in Holon. In Iran, residents of Isfahan reported “everywhere shook” following reported strikes by U.S. and Israeli jets. A fire also broke out at a key UAE oil hub at the port of Fujairah due to falling drone debris. While Fujairah’s media office confirmed a fire on Saturday, reports on Sunday indicate that oil-loading operations at the terminal have begun to resume.
Araghchi claimed U.S. strikes were launched from UAE territory—specifically Ras al-Khaimah—a claim UAE senior adviser Anwar Gargash dismissed. Two drones also targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, an act the Iraqi Prime Minister warned “exposes Iraq to ‘serious consequences.'” Iraqi officials also warned that drone strikes near Baghdad airport are threatening the security of a prison housing 5,700 Islamic State (IS) detainees.
Military Developments and Global Energy Shifts
The Pentagon identified six U.S. service members killed in Thursday’s KC-135 refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq. To maintain regional presence, the U.S. Navy extended the service of the USS Nimitz until March 2027. Amid rising energy costs, Trump confirmed he has temporarily eased sanctions on Russia’s oil sector. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia has supplied Iran with intelligence and drones used to attack U.S. bases. Zelensky further noted that Ukraine is offering drone-defense expertise to Gulf nations while Washington is “preoccupied” with the Middle East.
Industrial Threats and Civil Unrest
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned the U.S. to move American industrial plants out of the region to avoid any “harm.” This follows Trump’s comment that the U.S. “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island but “may hit it a few more times just for fun.” Inside the United States, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr—whose agency holds the power to regulate American airwaves—threatened to revoke broadcasters’ licenses for “running hoaxes and news distortions.” Analysts note the agency has not denied a license renewal in decades. In Washington, anti-regime protesters gathered outside the White House sporting “Make Iran Great Again” hats.
As nations worldwide grapple with the fallout of this escalating conflict, the ultimate resolution remains uncertain, leaving the global economy and regional stability suspended between the hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough and the hard realities of ongoing military engagement.
