The United Kingdom will hold discussions with numerous nations regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated, as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran has essentially closed off the vital Gulf passage.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Starmer stated that UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper would lead a virtual meeting with 35 nations on Thursday to evaluate strategies for reopening the strait “once the fighting has concluded.”
The UK prime minister stated that the meeting will "evaluate all potential diplomatic and political actions we can undertake to ensure freedom of navigation, safeguard trapped ships and seafarers, and reinstate the flow of essential goods."
"After that meeting, we will gather our military planners to assess how we can organize our resources and ensure the strait is accessible and secure once the combat has ceased," Starmer stated.
Nations globally have expressed significant worries regarding Iran's complete control over the strait, which serves as a transit route for approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, amidst US-Israeli assaults on Iran and Iranian strikes on various Middle Eastern targets.
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The shutdown has caused worldwide energy prices to skyrocket and compelled countries to declare that they will tap into some of their strategic oil and gas reserves to mitigate the crisis.
Starmer announced that nations that recently agreed to a declaration expressing their willingness “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz” would participate in this week’s discussions.
Along with the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands are also nations that have signed it.
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“I must be honest with people about this.” "This isn't going to be simple," Starmer stated.
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US President Donald Trump has criticized the UK and other European nations, alleging that they are not only neglecting to act to reopen the strait but also not offering enough assistance to Washington in its military campaign.