DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called for vigilance and coordination among regional countries to counter what he described as "destabilising and escalatory actions" by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.

Araqchi made the remarks in separate phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan.

He said recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian infrastructure were aimed at escalating tensions and added that Iran would spare no effort in defending its sovereignty and security.

DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetise Tehran's newfound grip over the critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes.

Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has disrupted maritime transit through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its war adversaries and their allies.

By Nazih Osseiran and Emilie Madi

March 19 (Reuters) - Lebanese food courier Hamza Hareb now keeps his distance if he spots a car with tinted windows while on a delivery run in Beirut. Hezbollah is rumoured to use such cars, and Hareb wants to steer clear of any Israeli strikes targeting the armed group.

Israel has expanded its air campaign to new parts of Beirut in recent days, hitting apartments and downing entire buildings in strikes it says are targeting Hezbollah, which pulled Lebanon into the regional war on March 2 by firing into Israeli territory.

BRUSSELS, March 19 (Reuters) - There are alternatives to overcome Hungary's veto on a 90 billion euro ($103 billion) loan to Ukraine but they will need political courage from European leaders, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday.

"There are alternatives, but let's see how this goes. It will also need some political character from all of us," Kallas told reporters ahead of a European Council summit in Brussels.

By Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge

GENEVA, March 19 (Reuters) - Gulf states have requested an urgent debate at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva over Iran's strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle East, documents show.

A diplomatic note sent by Gulf states, seen by Reuters, describes the ballistic missile and drone strikes on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as a "situation of serious concern for international peace and security," with severe human rights implications.

Iran will "boycott the United States" but "not the World Cup", Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars.

Iran is currently scheduled to play its group matches in the US in this year's tournament.

"We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United States but not the World Cup," Taj said in the video released on Wednesday.

BEIJING, March 19 (Reuters) - China, home to the world's biggest oil refining sector, said it was ready to work with Southeast Asia in addressing energy problems stemming from the war in Iran and called on the parties involved to immediately cease military operations.

China's show of willingness to work with the region of more than 700 million people would be welcome relief to Southeast Asian oil importers after an order by Beijing earlier this month to ban Chinese exports of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Kuwait refinery hit -

A drone attack on a refinery owned by Kuwait's national oil company sparked a fire at one of the units, state media said.

"Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced that one of the operational units of the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery... was the target of a drone attack, triggering a limited fire," the Kuwait News Agency said, adding that no one was injured.

- European gas prices jump -

March 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will host a consultative meeting of foreign ministers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss ways to support regional security and stability given the Iran war, the kingdom's foreign ministry said.

A Turkish diplomatic source said separately that representatives from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates would attend the meeting.

DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - Iran seeks compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of enabling U.S. attacks against Iranian territory, Iran's U.N. Ambassador told the UN Secretary General in a letter according to a Nournews report published on Thursday.

In the letter, Amir Saeid Iravani said the UAE’s decision to allow its territory to be used for the strikes constituted "an internationally wrongful act that entailed state responsibility."