United States president Donald Trump urged foreign governments to send naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz to escort commercial vessels after Iranian attacks disrupted one of the world’s most critical oil routes. The call drew no firm commitments from major powers as oil prices rose and shipping traffic slowed across the Gulf. Trump issued the appeal as the illegal war of the United States and Israel against Iran entered its third week. Iranian forces have targeted vessels linked to Washington and its partners following air strikes on Iranian territory that began on 28 February . Shipping through the narrow waterway, which carries about one fifth of global oil exports, has fallen sharply.