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Over a dozen countries are willing to contribute to an international mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said.
On Friday, around 50 countries from Europe, Asia and the Middle East attended a virtual conference chaired by the Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
Starmer and Macron have both refused to be involved in President Trump’s blockade of Iran’s ports on the Strait, but said they were willing to be involved in a peacetime mission to protect maritime trade.
“We all oppose any restriction, anything that would amount, in effect, to an attempt to privatise the strait, and obviously any toll system,” Macron told reporters.
He said part French naval assets currently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea could be used for the mission.
“We will take this forward with a military plan conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said his country is also prepared to be involved.
He cautioned, though, that the US should be involved to avoid the mission becoming a “stress test” for US-European relations.
European officials said the mission could take many forms that would depend on circumstances.
“It can involve intelligence sharing, mine-clearance capabilities, military escorts, information procedures with neighbouring countries and more,” a senior French official said.
“The objective is clear, and the resources deployed will naturally depend on the situation.”
On Friday, President Trump said talks with Iran will continue over the weekend, and that “good news” is coming.
“We’re having a big day. We’ll see how it all turns out, but it should be good. We’ve had some very good discussions,” the President told reporters in Arizona.
“A lot of good things are happening, and that includes Lebanon, too.”
Trump was asked whether “significant differences” remain between the US and Iran.
“Well, there could be. Let’s see what happens. If there are, we’ll have to straighten it out. But I don’t think there’s too many significant differences,” he replied.
Later, aboard Air Force One, President Trump said there had been “pretty good news,” but he gave no further details.
“We had some pretty good news 20 minutes ago, but it seems to be going very well in the Middle East with Iran. You’ll hear about [it]. I just think it’s something that should happen. It’s something that only makes sense to happen, and I think it will. We’ll see what happens.”
The two-week ceasefire will end next week.
Military operations against Iran could continue if no deal is reached. President Trump has said he may not extend the ceasefire.
The Strait of Hormuz is now open to all commercial vessels, Iranian officials confirmed, as a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon takes effect.
Although the Strait is now open, President Trump has said the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports on the Strait will continue until an agreement with Iran is reached.
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