Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have discussed the ‘importance’ of reopening Strait of Hormuz in a call this evening focused on the ‘ongoing situation in the Middle East’
Keir Starmer held a call with Donald Trump today after the US president urged Britain to send warships to the Middle East to help police the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he hoped the UK would be among “many countries” to help combat Iranian efforts to block the crucial waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil transits. Writing on Truth Social, he said the UK, China, France, Japan and South Korea will “hopefully” be sending warships to the shipping route, before issuing a second plea, saying countries “that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage.”
In a call with the US president this evening, Keir Starmer discussed the “importance” of reopening Strait of Hormuz. The pair spoke about the “ongoing situation in the Middle East”, a Downing Street spokeswoman said, including the “importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the disruption to global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide”.
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It comes as Britain is considering sending minehunting drones to secure the vital shipping lane. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, today said any involvement from the UK to protect the Strait of Hormuz “would be complicity in the crime of aggression”, which would be “responded to by Iran”.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said it was “discussing a range of options” to ensure security of Strait of Hormuz. “As we’ve said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region,” a spokesperson said.
Trump pushed for a “team effort” in a series of Truth Social posts on the matter. “The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both militarily, Economically, and in every other way,” he wrote, adding the US will help and coordinate those countries “A LOT” to “everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well”.
“This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be – it will bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump said.
Iran’s foreign minister mocked Trump for resorting to “begging others” to make the waterway safe. Abbas Araghchi said the US’s security umbrella is “full of holes” – and it is now “inviting trouble” to the Strait of Hormuz.
“US is now begging others, even China, to help it make Hormuz safe,” Aragchi said in a post on X. “Iran calls on brotherly neighbors to expel foreign aggressors, especially as their only concern is Israel”.
