Xinhua World news summary at 0030 GMT, March 16 -Xinhua

Xinhua World news summary at 0030 GMT, March 16

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2026-03-16 08:18:45

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump Sunday evening to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the disruption to global shipping caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

During the conversation, Starmer stressed the importance of reopening the strategic waterway to help restore normal shipping routes and ease rising global costs, a statement from 10 Downing Street said. (Britain-U.S.-Hormuz)

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WASHINGTON -- The White House is planning to announce a multinational coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing U.S. officials.

The plan, which remains under discussion, could be unveiled "as soon as this week," the report said.

Publicly, many governments have been noncommittal to such an escort mission until hostilities end, given the risks involved, according to the report. (U.S.-Hormuz)

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TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday night reiterated his country's demand for compensation from its "enemy."

"We will obtain compensation from the enemy, and if he refuses, we will take as much of his property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property," read a post on the supreme leader's Telegram account.(Iran-U.S.-Compensation)

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JERUSALEM -- Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on Sunday said in a statement that it will reopen the Rafah Crossing, a main lifeline for residents in the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the land crossing will reopen in both directions, for limited movement of people only.(Israel-Rafah Crossing)

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CAIRO -- The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, remains open and under Iranian control, a senior Iranian commander said on Saturday, amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies.

Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, said in a statement that claims by the United States about destroying Iran's navy or providing safe escort for oil tankers were false, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.(Iran-Hormuz)