Starmer refuses to back Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade
Sir Keir Starmer has demanded that Donald Trump end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which will cause economic hardship for the British as oil prices rise.
The Prime Minister had already declared on Monday morning that “we do not support a blockade” and that Britain “will not be dragged” into the Iran war.
But Sir Keir later announced he would bring together 40 countries to reopen the Bosphorus, which Iran had initially blockaded, and demanded a reversal of the White House’s policy.
In his statement to parliament, he made clear that he condemned Iran’s actions to blockade the straits but refused to support Trump’s response to blockade the straits.
In a direct challenge to President Trump and Iran, he said: “The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Mobilizing global shipping is vital to relieve cost-of-living pressures.”
“The UK has brought together more than 40 countries who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation.
“This week the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent and multinational plan to secure shipping once the conflict ends.”
The Prime Minister will discuss cost of living pressures with locals during his visit to Greater Manchester on Monday. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will travel to Washington this week for International Monetary Fund meetings after warning that “the war in Iran will have a cost for British families and businesses.”
The US president has threatened to stop tankers from entering and leaving the key oil and gas shipping lane; This move is expected to further increase oil prices when markets open, which have already risen as a result of Iran’s control of the strait in retaliation for the US-Israeli war.
The latest developments come as MPs returned to Westminster from the Easter break on Monday with no solution to the Middle East crisis in place and the fate of a shaky two-week ceasefire hanging in the balance.
Mr Trump announced the shipping blockade after US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended without a deal, with both sides blaming each other.
The American leader said on the Truth Social platform that the US military will begin “blockading all ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz” starting at 10 a.m. US Eastern Time.
Without elaborating, Mr. Trump added: “Other Countries will be involved in this Blockade.” However, it appears that England will not participate.
Sir Keir was unequivocal about the blockade, telling BBC 5Live on Monday morning: “The strait is not always closed or free for navigation as it should be, which means oil and gas cannot reach the market.
“That means the price is going to go up, and that means everyone listening to this is going to be faced with higher energy bills, and I don’t want that to happen.”
The Prime Minister added: “We do not support a blockade” and promised that all Britain’s diplomatic and military efforts would be aimed at “fully opening the strait”.
It came after a government minister repeatedly refused to say whether Britain agreed with Trump’s blockade of the strait.
Asked whether the government supported the blockade, education minister Olivia Bailey told Sky News: “We will have no part in it and we want to see free movement in the Strait of Hormuz. That’s a really important principle. We’re working with our international allies to do that.”
When pressed on the issue, he repeatedly said: “We will not take part in this and we want to see free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Asked whether the government was concerned the blockade could cause oil prices to rise, Ms Bailey said the impact on personal finances was a “huge concern”.
He said: “We are working hard to open the Strait of Hormuz because we want to make sure that we actually reduce the damage we see to people’s pockets.
“This is a big concern for us and that’s why we’re working hard to do this.”
A government spokesman said Sir Keir met French President Emmanuel Macron at the weekend and the two leaders agreed on the need to work with a broad coalition of partners to “protect freedom of navigation”.
Britain will host new talks this week with a coalition of countries on reopening the maritime pinch point.
The third such meeting, organized by the UK, is expected to look for ways to support a sustainable end to the conflict and focus on increasing international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait, including through sanctions.
It is understood Sir Keir’s meeting with Mr Macron on Sunday took place before Mr Trump posted about the blockade on social media.
Mr. Trump told Fox News that “the United Kingdom and several other countries have sent demining teams to the strait” and that “it won’t take long to clear the gap.”
The Prime Minister has previously said that Britain’s mine hunting systems are already in the region. But this is thought to refer to minesweeping UAVs that could be deployed once the situation stabilizes and is different from Mr Trump’s blockade.
US Central Command, which is responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, said the blockade of Iranian ports will begin on Monday.
“U.S. forces will not impede the freedom of navigation of ships traveling to and from Iran through the Strait of Hormuz to ports outside Iran,” the military said in a statement that appeared to contradict Mr. Trump’s threat to stop all ships.
The president attributed the failure of the negotiations to Iran’s refusal to reopen the canal and its determination to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of “maximalism, shifting goalposts and blockades”, adding: “Homility breeds hostility.”
Mr. Trump has also renewed his war of words with Pope Leo XIV, who has previously criticized the president’s rhetoric on the conflict.
In a post on Truth Social earlier on Monday, Mr Trump said: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime and terrible on Foreign Policy… I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have Nukes.”
