The moves of Britain and France embodied an effort to formulate a joint military plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz and resume trade flows through it, in a meeting in London in which more than 44 countries participated, while Iran warned that it would not reopen the vital passage as long as the American blockade was imposed on its ports.
Published on: 04/24/2026 - 04:41
On Thursday, Britain and France expressed their hope to formulate a military plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz that would allow the resumption of trade flows through this vital corridor.
This came during a two-day meeting in London, where military planners discussed the possibility of establishing a multinational mission led by the United Kingdom and France to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after reaching a sustainable truce, according to what was announced by British Defense Minister John Healey and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautran.
The meeting also witnessed the participation of more than 44 countries from different continents, according to a statement by the British Ministry of Defense.
In a joint statement, Haley and Vautran expressed their confidence in "the possibility of achieving real progress."
Haley noted during the meeting that “international trade, energy, and the economic stability of all our nations depend on freedom of navigation” in the strait.
He urged the preparation of "practical military plans," explaining that "millions of people" depend on the success of this meeting.
He continued, stressing: “We cannot let them down.”
Read also: Iran displays its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and threatens Washington and Tel Aviv amid a tanker war
For his part, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that more than 12 countries have agreed to participate in the mission aimed at securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the other hand, Iran warned on Wednesday that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States continues to blockade its ports.
After the almost complete decline in attacks across the region following the implementation of the ceasefire, the United States and Iran continue to exert pressure regarding the maritime trade corridor.
Before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, nearly a fifth of the world's oil passed through the strait.
France 24/AFP
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