Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Starmer said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting of 35 countries on Thursday to consider steps to reopen the strait “after the fighting has stopped
The United Kingdom will hold talks with dozens of countries on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced, as the US-Israel war with Iran has effectively shut down the vital Gulf waterway.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Starmer said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting of 35 countries on Thursday to consider steps to reopen the strait “after the fighting has stopped.”
The meeting will examine all possible diplomatic and political options to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of stranded ships and seafarers, and resume the flow of essential goods, Starmer said.
He added that military planners would also be brought together after the meeting to explore how to deploy resources and make the strait safe and accessible once the conflict ends.
Countries worldwide have raised serious concerns over Iran’s effective closure of the strait, a key route for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian strikes across the Middle East.
The disruption has driven up global energy prices and prompted several countries to announce plans to release parts of their strategic oil and gas reserves to ease the crisis.
Starmer said nations that recently signaled readiness to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will participate in this week’s talks.
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