Washington, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The White House plans to announce a multinational coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal today. The plan, still under discussion, could be unveiled "even this week," the report added, citing White House sources. Publicly, many governments have refrained from committing to such an escort mission until hostilities end, given the risks involved, the report noted. On Thursday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which more than 20% of the world's oil flows, and pledged to open new fronts in his country's conflict with the United States and Israel. IP On February 28, the United States and Israel began military attacks against Iran, disrupting global navigation, causing oil prices to surge above $100 per barrel, and shaking the world economy.
