Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will convene representatives from 35 countries on Thursday to explore diplomatic and political avenues for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The vital shipping route, essential for global oil and gas supplies, has been blocked by Iran following a series of military strikes by the United States and Israel, reports The Guardian. The discussions represent the next phase of joint British and French efforts to secure the waterway.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead the talks alongside international leaders to assess measures to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the movement of vital commodities. Notably, the United States is understood not to have been invited directly to the summit. Instead, the focus remains on those who signed a joint statement last month – including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria – as well as other European allies and regional maritime players.
The blockade has left approximately 1,000 ships stranded. Before the conflict, the channel carried one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas and a third of the global fertilisers required for half of the world’s food production. Currently, only about 130 ships have made the passage since the war began, a figure that typically represents just one day of normal traffic.
Starmer, who met with energy and shipping bosses on Monday, warned that restoring the route would be a long-term challenge. He stated that industry leaders are primarily concerned with the safety and security of passage rather than insurance issues.
The prime minister emphasised that the “British national interest” requires a “united front of military strength and diplomatic activity”. While the immediate focus is diplomatic, No 10 confirmed that British military planners will meet after the summit to discuss how to marshal capabilities to ensure the strait is accessible once hostilities cease.
The Ministry of Defence has already dispatched planners to US Central Command to evaluate options for escorting tankers.
The situation remains volatile, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) stating on Wednesday that the waterway remains under its navy’s control and closed to “enemies of this nation”.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has insisted there will be no ceasefire until Iran relinquishes control of the strait, criticising European nations for a lack of support and stating it will be up to other countries to ensure the waterway’s safety if US strikes cease.
