Japan and Australia have said they are not planning to send navy vessels to the Middle East to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump called on allies to create a coalition to reopen the vital waterway.
Follow live developments in the Middle East as Donald Trump demands other nations help secure Strait of Hormuz while Israel begins 'limited ground operations' in south Lebanon.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described being back in Washington DC for St Patrick's Day as an honour ahead of a number of high profile engagements with the US administration.