UK: PM-'Still Work To Be Done To Reopen Hormuz Shipping'
Speaking on a visit to a British armed forces base in Saudi Arabia, PM Sir Keir Starmer says that "There is still a great deal of work to be done" to reopen the oil and gas shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Sir Keir has travelled to the Middle East to hold talks with Gulf leaders in the aftermath of the agreement of a ceasefire deal.
- Speaking to British and Saudi personnel, Sir Keir said, “We now ... have a ceasefire, but there’s a lot of work to do, as you will appreciate, a lot of work to make sure that that ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see...But also a lot of work to do in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, which has an impact everywhere across the world."
- The UK came in for particular criticism from US President Donald Trump for its refusal to take part in direct offensive operations against Iran, or to step in and secure the Straits of Hormuz when they came under full Iranian control. As such, the direct diplomatic role the UK will likely play in the ceasefire talks is non-existent.
- Earlier this morning, at a meeting of the French Council of Ministers, President Emmanuel Macron said "About 15 countries are currently mobilised and are participating in the planning, under France's leadership, to enable the implementation of this strictly defensive mission in coordination with Iran to facilitate the resumption of traffic."
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IRAN: Larijani Downplays Chances Of De-Escalation After Macron Pledges Escorts
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, indicates that any de-escalation in the Middle East is unlikely to be achieved by countries viewed as close to the US or Israel, referring to European nations. Larijani posts on X: "It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of the war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region, especially if that is by the design of parties that were not far removed from supporting this war and contributing to its fanning."
- Larijani's comments come in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that French naval vessels would provide security escorts through the Strait of Hormuz for container ships and tankers. Speaking in Cyprus, Macron said he wanted the "purely defensive" operation to begin as soon as possible, adding that this can only happen when the fighting in the Middle East has died down.
- Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa held a videoconference with leaders from the GCC states, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Armenia, Egypt and Syria. In a joint statement, the two EU leaders said they "expressed their openness to further tailor and enhance" operations Aspides and Atalanta, joint European naval operations initially intended to protect shipping in the region from Houthi rebels in Yemen, in order to better respond to the situation.
