Sir Keir Starmer has refused to join Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane, which could drive up petrol costs for Britons
Sir Keir Starmer has declined to participate in Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which could intensify economic hardship for Britons through increased petrol prices.
The president threatened to halt tankers from entering or exiting the crucial oil and gas shipping route, a decision anticipated to push oil prices higher when markets reopen, following rises already triggered by Iran’s control of the strait in response to the US- Israel conflict against it.
The Prime Minister will address cost-of-living concerns with local residents during a visit to Greater Manchester later today.
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Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will head to Washington for International Monetary Fund meetings this week, having cautioned that “the war in Iran will come at a cost to British families and business”.
MPs return to Westminster from the Easter break on Monday with no end to the Middle East crisis in view and the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire hanging in the balance. Trump declared the shipping blockade following the collapse of US-Iranian peace negotiations in Pakistan, with both nations pointing fingers at each other.
The American leader announced on his Truth Social platform that the US military would begin “blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”. Trump added, without elaborating: “Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade.”
Britain will not be taking part, it is understood. The UK is “urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation,” a Government spokesperson confirmed.
According to No 10, Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone and reached agreement on the necessity of assembling a broad coalition of partners to address the issue.
Britain will host further discussions this week aimed at reopening the maritime chokepoint, bringing together a coalition of nations. The third such gathering organised by the UK is expected to explore ways to support a lasting resolution to the conflict, while focusing on ramping up international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait, including through the use of sanctions.
It is understood that Sir Keir’s Sunday phone call with Mr Macron took place prior to Mr Trump’s social media post about a blockade.
Trump told Fox News “the UK and a couple of other countries are sending mine sweepers” to the strait, and “it won’t take long to clean it out”.
The Prime Minister had previously confirmed that UK mine hunting systems were already deployed in the region. However, this is believed to refer to minesweeping drones that could be utilised once conditions stabilise, and is considered separate from Mr Trump’s proposed blockade.
US Central Command, which oversees American military operations across the Middle East, announced that its blockade of Iranian ports would commence on Monday. US forces “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” the military confirmed in a statement that appeared to directly contradict Mr Trump’s earlier threat to halt all shipping.
The president attributed the breakdown in talks to Iran’s unwillingness to reopen the waterway and pledge to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi hit out at Washington over its “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade,” adding: “Enmity begets enmity.”
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