UK and allies discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
Dozens of countries are exploring ways to restart vital energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump said securing the waterway was someone else’s problem.
Iran’s “recklessness” in blockading the Strait has “dealt a blow to our global economic security”, UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said as she chaired the virtual meeting, which also included Australia, France, Germany, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and India.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” Cooper said in his opening remarks, which were released to the media before the rest of the meeting took place behind closed doors.
The United States was not participating in the talks, an official said.
The discussions, attended by representatives of 40 countries, took place after Trump said on Wednesday evening that the Bosphorus could be opened “naturally” and that it was the responsibility of countries that rely on the waterway to ensure that it remains open.
Iran has largely closed the main waterway, which carries about a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption, in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks that began in late February.
As energy prices soar, reopening has become a priority for governments around the world.
European countries initially rejected Trump’s request to send a navy to the region for fear of being dragged into conflict.
But concerns about the impact of rising energy costs on the global economy have led them to form a coalition to see how they can defend their interests.
European diplomats said putting together the coalition led by Britain and France was at an early stage.
Thursday’s talks will focus on which countries are ready to participate, officials said.
French armed forces spokesman Guillaume Vernet said at a news conference on Thursday that the process would be multi-stage and could not take place until the fighting calms down or ends.
The main focus of the talks will be how to ensure ship owners feel safe enough so that ships can continue to sail in the region and insurance premiums can be reduced.
Vernet said there will eventually also need to be coordination with Iran to ensure the ships are given safety guarantees; This is not very likely for now.
He also said that negotiations have begun regarding which military assets can be provided.
“We will need to bring together a sufficient number of ships, have the ability to coordinate in the air, at sea, and have the ability to share intelligence,” he said.
Britain said it would host a meeting with military planners for talks next week.
Trump said Wednesday evening that other countries using the Strait of Hormuz should “pluck up their overdue courage” and “just catch up.”
“Take it, protect it, use it for yourself,” he said.
But speaking in South Korea on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said militarily seizing the Bosphorus was an “unrealistic” option.
“It will take an indefinite period of time and will expose anyone who dares to cross this Strait to coastal risks from the Revolutionary Guard as well as ballistic missiles,” he said.
Iran’s armed forces responded to Trump by warning that “more crushing, broader and more destructive” attacks on the United States and Israel could be coming.
Ibrahim Zulfakari, spokesman for the Iranian army’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said in a statement carried by Iranian media that the war will continue until Iran’s enemies suffer “lasting remorse and surrender”.
Iran has prepared a draft protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kezem Gharibabadi said on Thursday, according to the official IRNA news agency.
