UK will play full part in reopening Strait of Hormuz, Starmer says

PA Media

The UK will play its "full part" in getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened "as soon as possible", Sir Keir Starmer has pledged.

The prime minister said he and French President Emmanuel Macron were bringing together countries prepared to protect vessels in the Strait, a key oil shipping channel effectively closed by Iran since the war began in February.

He told reporters at the G7 summit in France that the impact of the closure on energy prices had affected "every household across the country".

The exact details of the US-Iran deal to end the war have not been released, but President Donald Trump has said the strait will fully reopen when the initial agreement is signed this week.

Sir Keir said: "It's going to make a material difference to our economies, to stability in the world, and of course we're [G7 countries] all united in saying that Iran must not get... a nuclear weapon."

He added that he had congratulated Trump on striking a deal with Iran, describing it as "a really important breakthrough".

On Sunday, Sir Keir said that if required the UK would support the deal by "standing up the defensive, independent multilateral mission" to restore freedom of navigation to Hormuz, including offering to clear mines.

In May, the government said the UK would deploy Typhoon fighter jets, drones and the HMS Dragon warship to a future mission in Hormuz.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said France could have fighter jets patrolling the strait soon if required, adding that an aircraft carrier was already in the region.

"About 20 countries have made concrete contributions," Macron said on Monday, adding four were "present in the region".

Trump said on Monday that he did not believe the US would "need much help" in ensuring the free passage of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz because of its deal with Iran, before adding he did not think it was "a bad idea to have a ship or two" from other countries.

However, the US president said he did not think it was "a bad idea to have a ship or two" from other countries based in the strategic waterway.

The conflict in the Middle East began after the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader on 28 February.

Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf and by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Ukraine 'unity'

Also on the agenda at the G7 summit is the war in Ukraine, with Sir Keir expected to hold bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later.

The government has announced a package of 70 fresh sanctions targeting Russia, which it says is aimed at "choking off" the Kremlin's war effort.

The sanctions will target Moscow's shadow fleet, financial networks and military supply chains.

Sir Keir said there was "real unity" among G7 leaders on Ukraine, which he said was regaining territory and inflicting huge losses on occupying Russian forces.

It comes as the Ministry of Defence said it was investigating reports a Russian warship fired warning shots near a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel.

The incident, which happened at around 11:40am BST on Tuesday between the Isle of Wight and Normandy, reportedly involved the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.

It comes days after Royal Marine Commandos boarded one of Moscow's "shadow fleet" oil tankers off the south coast of England on Sunday.

But it is understood British officials do not view this incident as being linked to Sunday's operation.

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