Britain to call for toll-free Strait of Hormuz

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to call for unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday to counter Iran’s push to control one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.

Cooper is expected to say in his annual foreign policy speech that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Iran since the start of the war, should be free.

“Fundamental freedoms of the seas should not be unilaterally taken away or sold off to individual bidders. Nor can there be room for tolls on international waterways,” Cooper will say tonight at Mansion House in London, according to preliminary excerpts of his speech.

Iran told the Financial Times that it wants to charge ships that will pass through the Strait of Hormuz reporting On Wednesday, Tehran announced plans to charge shipping companies in cryptocurrency for oil tankers to pass through the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea corridor connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Approximately 20% of global oil and gas typically passes through the Bosphorus.

Britain’s Cooper is also expected to push for Lebanon to be included in the two-week ceasefire reached between the US and Iran on Tuesday.

“The ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran is welcomed. It is a vital step towards bringing security and stability to the region, easing pressures on the global economy and the cost of living here at home,” Cooper said.

“There is much work to be done, and we support negotiations: progress must be made, there must be no return to hostilities, Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire, there must be no further threat from Iran to its neighbours, and most importantly the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened.”

Cooper is set to highlight the economic impact of the Middle East crisis on people in Britain, citing rising mortgage rates, fuel prices and food prices.

His speech came as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is holding talks with several countries in the Gulf region to discuss diplomatic efforts to support and maintain the ceasefire agreement.