Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will “play our full part” in restoring shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following a landmark agreement between US President Donald Trump and Iran.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, where Mr Trump is also in attendance, Sir Keir congratulated the US president on what he described as an “important breakthrough”.
Mr Trump revealed that the deal would enable oil to flow freely once more through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route from the Persian Gulf. The president indicated that the strait could be fully operational as early as Friday, when the agreement is set to be signed in Switzerland.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France could have fighter jets patrolling the strait by Tuesday, with an aircraft carrier already positioned in the region.
Sir Keir told reporters: “Let me first say how much we welcome the deal that President Trump has been able to get in this situation, congratulate him and the mediators on the work that they have done, because this is a really important breakthrough.
“At the G7 here we’ve been discussing the details of that deal and how we get the Strait of Hormuz open as quickly as possible.
“As you will know, President Macron and I put together a group of countries prepared to play their part in terms of reassurance to get vessels through the strait.
“That is hugely important in terms of reopening the strait, very, very important for us in the United Kingdom, because, of course, the strait being closed in the way that it has has had an impact on our economy, had an impact on every household across the country, so we’ll play our full part in relation to that.”
The UK and France have spearheaded plans for a defensive mission to protect and reassure vessels in the channel once hostilities cease, including the deployment of autonomous mine-hunting equipment.
On Monday, Mr Trump expressed his belief that the US would not “need much help” in ensuring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, thanks to the peace deal with Iran. However, he acknowledged that having “a ship or two” from other nations stationed in the strategic waterway might not be a bad idea.
While the agreement halts the conflict, lifts the US blockade, and reopens the strait, it leaves Iran’s disputed nuclear program for further negotiations. Iran’s foreign minister has stated that the deal also requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. Israel is not party to the agreement.
