Britain leads 40-nation talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz amid Iran blockade

Britain leads 40-nation talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz amid Iran blockade
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a meeting to discuss the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and the impact on the Strait of Hormuz, in London, Britain, 30 March 2026.
Reuters

Britain said on Thursday that around 40 countries are exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route effectively blocked by Iran amid ongoing conflict. The U.S. did not take part in the discussions.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper chaired the virtual meeting, joined by representatives from France, Germany, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and India. She described Iran’s blockade as “reckless” and warned it was “hitting our global economic security.”

“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” Cooper told reporters ahead of the closed-door discussions.

The talks are focusing on both diplomatic and military responses. Britain said it would host a meeting of military planners next week to examine how countries could coordinate naval and air assets, share intelligence, and reassure shipowners so that shipping can resume safely.

French Armed Forces spokesperson Guillaume Vernet said the process would be multi-phased, adding that security guarantees for vessels would only be possible once hostilities ease.

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron warned that a military seizure of the Strait would be “unrealistic” and extremely risky, citing threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and its ballistic missile capabilities.

The discussions reflect growing international concern over rising energy prices and the wider economic impact of the Strait’s closure, a key artery for global oil supplies.

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