The United States is reportedly planning to announce a "coalition" of multiple nations to help escort ships through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz as early as this week amid soaring oil prices due to the US and Israel's war on Iran.

US President Donald Trump has said that he has demanded that about seven countries send warships to keep the strategic waterways "open and safe", but his appeals have brought no commitments so far. 

Citing US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that discussions were still underway as to when the US-led naval operations would begin in the Gulf waters-- either before or after the end of the war in the Middle East -- which erupted on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's subsequent retaliation. The White House did not immediately release a statement on the issue.

Trump, last week, claimed the US Navy would "soon" start escorting oil tankers and has said Iran wants to negotiate, but Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi disputed that claim.

"We have never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiations," Araqchi told CBS's "Face the Nation" programme. "We are ready to defend ourselves for as long as it takes."

Source:Ndtv