"You can rest assured that any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at in concert with our allies. It comes after US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to open the channel "one way or another" and urged countries including the UK, China, and France to send warships to the waterway."
"According to a statement attributed to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran will continue blocking the strait, as a means of political and economic pressure against the US. As the US and Israel's war with Iran enters its third week, a number of ships are said to have been attacked as they attempted to navigate the narrow strait - through which about 20% of the world's oil usually passes."
"Miliband said it was a "priority" for the strait to be reopened and that there were "different ways we can contribute, including with mine-hunting drones". Refusing to be drawn into any operational details, Miliband reiterated that "ending the conflict is the best and surest way to get the strait reopened"."
The UK is considering various measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated the government is examining all options in coordination with allies, including potential use of mine-hunting drones. This follows US President Donald Trump's call for countries to send warships to the waterway. Iran's Supreme Leader has indicated Iran will continue blocking the strait as political and economic pressure against the US. Ships navigating the narrow passage have faced attacks, and concerns exist regarding Iranian mines placed in the channel. Miliband emphasized that resolving the underlying conflict represents the most effective approach to reopening the strait.
#strait-of-hormuz #uk-foreign-policy #iran-us-conflict #oil-shipping-routes #international-maritime-security
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]