UK to make ‘wide-ranging’ contribution to Hormuz mission, says envoy
Britain will provide “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international effort to safeguard shipping in the strait of Hormuz, the UK ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, announced.
Turner’s statement comes amid ongoing concerns regarding the state and funding of Britain’s armed forces.
The multinational mission, led by the UK and France, aims to reassure vessels navigating the vital waterway following the resolution of the conflict, Turner stated during an event in Washington.
reports that the initiative was unveiled during talks in Paris involving nearly 50 countries, which Turner said demonstrated a global commitment to preventing tolls or restrictions on the shipping route, typically used to transport one fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies.
To date, approximately 12 nations have pledged participation in the mission.
The initiative has been criticized by former US President Donald Trump, who used it to renew his criticism of NATO as “useless” after the alliance declined to support his proposed offensive against Iran.
Opening summary
Welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East.
On Friday, Iran temporarily reopened the strait of Hormuz following a truce agreement between Israel and Lebanon, raising hopes for a broader peace. However, Tehran warned it would close the waterway again if the US naval blockade of Iranian ports persists.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that the strategic energy chokepoint would remain open to all commercial vessels for the duration of the 10-day US-brokered truce agreed on Thursday. US President Donald Trump described Iran’s move as “a great and brilliant day for the world.”
Nonetheless, subsequent statements and clarifications from both sides created uncertainty about how quickly shipping might resume normal operations. Some vessels were observed attempting to cross the strait on Friday but turned back after unsuccessful attempts.
Trump stated that the US blockade of ships sailing to Iranian ports would continue until “our transaction with is 100% complete.”
In response, Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the Hormuz strait “will not remain open” if the US blockade continues and accused Trump of making multiple false claims on Friday.
Trump later indicated he might terminate the ceasefire with Iran and “start dropping bombs again” if a long-term agreement to end the war is not reached by Wednesday, the truce’s expiration date.
Global leaders welcomed Iran’s announcement to reopen the waterway. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the move “a step in the right direction” and urged “the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, respected by everyone.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who co-chaired a virtual summit of about 50 countries on Friday, emphasized that the reopening must be made permanent.
Following Iran’s announcement, oil prices dropped significantly amid hopes that energy supplies could resume after nearly two months of disruption. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell below $90 a barrel, marking a 10% decline.
Trump stated that the US had “prohibited” Israel from bombing Lebanon and asserted that “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.” Minutes before Trump’s social media post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video address declaring that Israel was not finished with Hezbollah.
The Lebanese army reported “a number of violations” by Israel of the ceasefire on Friday morning, while thousands of displaced families began returning home to southern Lebanon. The conflict since 1 March has resulted in over 2,100 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than one million people.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s enriched uranium would be brought to the US and that the US and Tehran would collaborate to recover the uranium, denying reports of a $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal.
“No money is changing hands,”he told .
A cruise ship successfully transited the strait of Hormuz on Friday, becoming the first passenger vessel to do so since the war began, according to the ship tracking service MarineTraffic.
The issued a waiver allowing countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products at sea for approximately one month, aiming to manage soaring global energy prices.
The UN children’s agency expressed outrage after two truck drivers it had contracted to deliver clean water to families in Gaza were killed by Israeli fire.
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, has re-entered Middle Eastern waters, according to US defense officials.
