British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared on Monday that the United Kingdom will not be drawn into the conflict with Iran nor participate in any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Starmer emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait, describing it as essential for international navigation and security.
“We are not endorsing the blockade,” Starmer stated, underscoring that the UK’s priority has been, and will remain, ensuring the Strait is fully accessible. He noted that British minesweepers are deployed in the region, although he refrained from discussing specific operational details. The military focus, he explained, is on maintaining open passage through the Strait.
Starmer acknowledged that Britain is under significant pressure to become involved in the conflict but insisted that any military engagement would require a clear legal justification and a well-considered strategy. “Despite considerable pressure, my decision is firm: we will not be pulled into war,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, the United States announced it would initiate a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). The U.S. Central Command clarified that this blockade would be applied impartially to vessels of all nations accessing Iranian ports along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. However, ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports would not be obstructed.
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that American forces would intercept any vessel in international waters that has paid tolls to Iran. He warned that no ship paying what he termed an “illegal toll” would have safe passage on the high seas. Trump further threatened that any Iranian firing on U.S. forces or peaceful vessels would be met with overwhelming force.
