President Donald Trump is calling for about seven countries to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as Iranian strikes continued to impact Gulf countries on Monday.
The Associated Press reported that Tehran has accused the United States, without evidence, of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran’s oil exports, as oil prices soared. Brent crude oil was trading near $105 per barrel on Monday.
RELATED: Pentagon IDs 6 Air Force members killed in refueling plane crash
The war with Iran, which has already widened into a broader Middle East conflict, is entering its third week and continuing to expand.
At the same time, Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis, with more than 850 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.
Here is the latest on Monday.
Iran says Strait of Hormuz is closed only to US, Israel and their allies
7:05 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that Iran’s top diplomat says the key Strait of Hormuz is only cut off for vessels of the United States, Israel and their allies.
“From our perspective it is open,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of the strait. “It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”
Araghchi spoke at a press conference in Tehran on Monday.
Pentagon IDs 6 Air Force members killed in refueling plane crash
Dig deeper:
The Defense Department has identified the six Air Force members who were killed when their refueling plane crashed while supporting military operations against Iran.
The KC-135 aircraft crashed Thursday in western Iraq during an incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace.” The other plane landed safely.
The airmen killed were Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press and FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.