Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'something that we don't need'

As the war in Iran enters its third week, President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday night that he is talking to countries about policing the Strait of Hormuz, saying he is looking at “about seven,” but declined to give specifics on which countries they may be.

Trump also said that the Strait of Hormuz is “something that we don't need,” arguing that other countries should step in and assist because it affects them more than the U.S.

“I really am demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory. It's the place from which they get their energy, and they should come and they should help us protect it,” the president said.

Trump also suggested the U.S. not assist at all.

“You could make the case that maybe we shouldn't be there at all because we don't need it. We have a lot of oil people with the number one producer anywhere in the world,” he said.

-ABC News' Meghan Mistry and Emily Chang

As President Donald Trump continues to urge countries to assist with the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he reportedly issued a warning to NATO on Sunday, saying it will be “very bad” for the global alliance if they do not respond or comply.

“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” he reportedly told the Financial Times in a phone interview.

The president has spent the weekend insisting that because other countries, particularly Europe and China, are dependent on the oil that flows through the Strait, they should be responsible for assisting with the escalating oil crisis.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said.

The president also floated postponing his trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which a White House official previously told ABC is currently scheduled for March 31 to April 2. He did not say how long he may delay the trip.

Trump told the FT that he would “like to know” if China would help with unblocking the Strait of Hormuz before the summit takes place.

-ABC News' Emily Chang and Meghan Mistry

U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with President Donald Trump Sunday about the ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a spokesperson for the prime minister's office.

“The leaders discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the disruption to global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide," the spokesperson said.

“The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences for the American service personnel who have lost their lives during the conflict," according to the spokesperson, who added that the leaders "agreed to keep in touch.”

The spokesperson also said that Starmer had spoken Sunday with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and "discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the impact of the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz on international shipping."

“They agreed to discuss the ongoing conflict further in their meeting tomorrow, among other bilateral issues,” the spokesperson said.

President Trump on Saturday called for other countries, including the U.K., to step in and assist with the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

-ABC News' Mike Trew

Iraq's Security Media Cell, an office of the prime minister, said that five rockets targeted Baghdad airport Sunday, injuring five people.

"At exactly 19:00 this evening, Baghdad International Airport and its surroundings came under attack by 5 rockets, resulting in injuries to 4 airport staff and security personnel, in addition to an engineer, with varying degrees of wounds," the statement said.

The rockets struck numerous areas including on the grounds of the Baghdad Central Prison, which is near the former American base Camp Victory on the airport grounds, according to the statement.

"Competent authorities have begun taking the necessary legal measures, alongside tightening security procedures around the targeted areas," the statement said.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule