Washington, March 16 -- US President Donald Trump announced that he has requested approximately seven nations to deploy warships to assist in maintaining transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict with Iran continues to impact the critical maritime corridor.

The President's remarks on Sunday (US local time) follow reports indicating his intention to establish an international coalition to provide escorts for vessels navigating the strait. The waterway is a vital artery for global energy, with nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil exports passing through it.

While Trump did not specify the invited countries, he highlighted that the selected nations are those with a high level of dependency on Middle Eastern oil supplies....