UK to ‘play full part’ in reopening Strait of Hormuz after Iran deal, says Starmer
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the UK’s determination to ensure the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following US President Donald Trump’s landmark deal with Iran.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where Mr Trump was also present, Sir Keir offered his congratulations to the American leader on what he described as a “significant breakthrough”.
The deal, according to Mr. Trump, will ensure that oil continues to pass unimpeded through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping artery originating from the Persian Gulf. The US president stated that the strait could be fully operational as of Friday, coinciding with the signing of the agreement in Switzerland.
Underlining the economic consequences of closing the strait for the UK, Sir Keir said: “First of all, let me say how we welcome the agreement that President Trump was able to achieve in this situation, I congratulate him and the mediators for their work, because this is a really important breakthrough.”
The G7 continued its discussions as follows: “Here in the G7 we were discussing the details of this agreement and how to open the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.”
The Prime Minister also touched upon a joint initiative with French President Emmanuel Macron: “As you know, President Macron and I have brought together a group of countries that are ready to do their part in ensuring the passage of ships through the strait.”
Emphasizing the national importance, Sir Keir added: “This is hugely important in terms of reopening the strait, it’s very, very important for us in the UK, because of course closing the strait in this way has had an impact on our economy, it’s affected every household across the country, so we’re going to do our bit in relation to that.”
France had previously stated that French warplanes could patrol the strait until Tuesday and that an aircraft carrier was deployed in the region.
Britain and France are at the forefront of plans for a defensive mission aimed at protecting and reassuring ships in the canal once hostilities end, including the deployment of autonomous mine-hunting equipment.
But Trump expressed confidence on Monday that the United States “won’t need much help” in guaranteeing free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, tying that to the peace deal with Iran. Despite this, the US president acknowledged that he did not consider the deployment of one or two ships from other countries in the strategic waterway a “bad idea.”
While the agreement stands to end the conflict, lift the US blockade and reopen the vital strait, it specifically postpones discussions on Iran’s contentious nuclear program to future negotiations
Iran’s foreign minister said the agreement to end the war with the United States also requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
Israel is not part of the agreement.
