LONDON, APR 13: The prime minister has said the UK will not get dragged into the war in Iran, and has refused to support Donald Trump’s blockade of Iran’s ports.
The US military says it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, in a move that has once again caused oil prices to jump to more than $100 a barrel.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir Starmer said: “What we’ve been doing over the last few weeks – and this was part of what I was discussing with the Gulf states last week – is bringing countries together to keep the strait open, not shut.
“We’re not supporting the blockade and all of the marshalling diplomatically, politically and capability – we do have mine-sweeping capability, I won’t go into operational matters, but we do have that capability – that’s all focused, from our point of view, on getting the strait fully open.” US Central Command said the blockade would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations”, and is due to begin at 10am EDT, or 3pm UK time on Monday.
It added that it will “not impede” ships using the Strait to travel to other countries that are not Iran.
President Trump had initially threatened to blockade “any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz” in a post on Truth Social.
Starmer was keen to stress: “My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure – and there’s been some considerable pressure – we’re not getting dragged into the war. The UK is not getting dragged in.
“That’s not in our national interest, because I’m not going to act unless there’s a clear, lawful basis and a clear thought-through plan.” Addressing the president’s threats in the immediate aftermath on Sunday, a government spokesperson said: “We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.
“The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling.
“We are urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation.”
The prime minister had previously addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying he had discussed viable ways to keep it open with President Trump.
Starmer said these options included “mine hunting systems”, “anti-drone capabilities”, and how UK can “play a part in bringing others together” to create a lasting solution. This week, the UK will co-host a summit on a “coordinated, independent, multinational” plan to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.
The prime minister said: “The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Getting global shipping moving is vital to ease cost-of-living pressures.
“The UK has convened more than 40 nations who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation.”
