Investing.com — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that the UK is working with allies on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East, but warned the task will not be easy.
Starmer told reporters that reopening the strait is necessary to ensure stability in the oil market. The UK is coordinating with European partners and other allies to develop a viable plan to restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact.
Starmer said efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will not be carried out as a NATO mission, but rather through a broader coalition of partners, adding that the UK is working with other nations to develop a credible plan to reopen shipping and passage through the strait. He emphasized that the mission was never envisioned as a NATO operation.
The prime minister said the alliance will include partners from Europe, the Gulf region, and the United States.
Starmer said the UK will not be drawn into the wider Iran war and will keep working towards a swift resolution. He added that when the fighting stops, some sort of negotiated agreement with Iran will be needed.
He said the war cannot be allowed to turn into a windfall for Putin and emphasized the importance of continuing to support Ukraine.
On domestic matters, Starmer said the government is giving legal direction to energy companies to ensure savings are passed to consumers. The government will provide £53 million to help households using heating oil. Starmer said he will not allow companies to make large profits from the hardship of working people, adding that ending the war is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living.