Trump urges UK and other nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz

The US president says he hopes China, France, Japan and South Korea will also send ships to defend the key oil shipping route.

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The US president said he hoped China, France, Japan and South Korea would also send ships to the passage, where a number of tankers are said to have been attacked since the US and Israel mounted their war against Iran a fortnight ago.

Responding to Trump's comments, the UK Ministry of Defence said it was discussing "a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region" with allies.

Tehran has said it will keep blocking the strait - the world's busiest oil shipping channel through which about 20% of world oil supplies usually pass.

Its effective closure, as well as strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure since the war started, has led to a huge rise in global oil prices.