dailyloe.com – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the United Kingdom, together with France, will lead a multinational military mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement was delivered after Starmer attended an international summit hosted by France focusing on maritime security in the region.
“I can confirm that, together with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow,” Starmer told reporters, as reported by Antara on Saturday (April 18).
He emphasized that the mission is defensive in nature, aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping and supporting mine-clearing operations.
According to Starmer, more than a dozen countries have expressed readiness to contribute military equipment to the mission, following a sustained ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
He also invited other nations to join the initiative. A meeting of defense ministry representatives from participating countries is scheduled to take place next week in London.
“The strait must be reopened without charges and without restrictions,” Starmer said.
Earlier, on April 13, the United States Navy began blocking maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. The route carries around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
Authorities in Washington, D.C. have allowed non-Iranian vessels to pass through the strait, provided they do not pay any fees to Tehran. Iranian officials have not formally imposed such charges, though the idea has been discussed.
Tensions in the region escalated after, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded with attacks targeting Israeli territory and several U.S. military facilities in the Middle East.
The ongoing instability has also led several countries in the region to partially or fully close their airspace amid the risk of missile and drone attacks.
