Hormuz Strait Crisis: Starmer and Trump Urge Reopening of the World's Energy Route
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, and President of the United States, Donald Trump, held intensive discussions regarding the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz amid the increasingly heated Middle East conflict. This step is considered crucial for maintaining stability in the global energy market, which has been severely shaken.
Since the Iran war broke out on 28 February, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by up to 95%. Iran has effectively blockaded the route following attacks launched by the US and Israel against the country. The impact has seen global crude oil prices surge 45% to US$106 per barrel.
A Downing Street spokesperson stated that during the conversation on Sunday evening, both leaders “agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is vital to ensure stability in the global energy market.”
The situation has grown more tense after President Trump, via a social media post on Saturday, threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the strait is not opened within 48 hours. In response to the bluff, Iranian state media reported that Tehran is prepared to target US-affiliated energy sites across the Gulf region.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom has begun increasing its military involvement. On Friday, the London government agreed to allow the US to use British bases to launch attacks on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, base usage permissions were limited to defensive operations.
Prime Minister Starmer is scheduled to lead an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday to discuss the war’s impact on the cost of living. The meeting will be attended by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, the Foreign Secretary, and the Energy Minister.
Housing Minister Steve Reed confirmed an Iranian missile attack targeting Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base in the Chagos Islands. “Iran fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia; one failed and fell short of the target, while the other was successfully intercepted,” Reed told the BBC.
Although Iran’s weapons are said to be capable of reaching up to 4,000 km, Reed emphasised that there is no specific assessment that Iran is directly targeting UK mainland territory. Currently, the UK government has prepared a £53 million aid package for households affected by the surge in heating oil prices due to this crisis.