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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump recently held a discussion focusing on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amidst the current conflict in the Middle East. This key maritime passage, which is among the busiest shipping routes globally, has experienced a dramatic decrease in traffic—dropping by approximately 95% since the outbreak of war involving Iran on February 28.
A spokesperson from Downing Street relayed that during their call on Sunday evening, the two leaders concurred on the critical importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maintain stability within the global energy market. Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to chair a Cobra meeting on Monday, with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey expected to attend. The meeting will focus on the repercussions of the war, especially the rising cost of living caused by the situation.
The ongoing blockade of the strait has been largely attributed to Iran’s actions following attacks by the US and Israel on February 28. Normally, this strategic channel facilitates about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, meaning the disruption has contributed to soaring global fuel prices—including a 45% increase in crude oil, now priced at $106 per barrel. Adding to the tension, former President Trump posted on social media a threat to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the strait was not reopened within 48 hours. In response, Iranian state media reported that Tehran warned of targeting US-linked energy infrastructure throughout the Gulf region if the threat was carried out.
At the forthcoming Cobra meeting, senior government officials including the chancellor, foreign secretary, and energy secretary will deliberate on issues such as energy security, economic challenges for households, impacts on businesses and supply chains, and the international response to the crisis. Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Steve Reed told the BBC that the government is already taking steps to ease the strain on energy bills, highlighting a £53 million support package aimed at households experiencing steep heating oil price hikes. Reed also reassured the public that there is “no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK – or even could if they wanted to,” despite concerns about Iran’s missile capabilities following reports from the Israel Defense Forces on weapons with ranges up to 4,000 kilometers.
Further developments include Iran’s missile attacks on the joint US-UK military base located on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 3,800 km from Iran. Reed declined to provide detailed information on how close the missiles came to the British territory, citing the inability to disclose “operational details.” According to Reed, Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia; one missile failed and fell short, while the other was successfully intercepted. Additionally, on Friday, the UK government approved the use of British bases by the US to conduct strikes targeting Iranian positions along the Strait of Hormuz, expanding on previous permissions that only allowed defensive operations to protect British interests and lives from Iranian missile attacks
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