Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom and France will co-host a major international summit to tackle the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis and restore global shipping.
More than 40 countries are expected to participate in the high-level meeting, aimed at developing a coordinated multinational response to the disruption of one of the world’s most critical oil and trade routes.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, Starmer warned that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying global economic strain and worsening cost-of-living pressures.
“The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Getting global shipping moving is vital to ease cost of living pressures,” he said.
The UK leader added that participating nations share a common goal of restoring freedom of navigation and stabilising global supply chains.
The planned summit comes after failed negotiations between the United States and Iran over reopening the waterway and addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran had earlier agreed to reopen the strait temporarily for two weeks and suspend defensive operations, provided attacks from the US and Israel ceased. However, talks collapsed after 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad.
JD Vance said Tehran rejected Washington’s terms, stressing that the US is seeking a firm commitment from Iran to halt nuclear weapons development.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain central sticking points in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
