British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump have agreed on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global energy supplies and drive up fuel prices.
In a phone call on Sunday evening, both leaders stressed that restoring traffic through the vital waterway was essential for stabilising the global energy market, according to a Downing Street spokesperson. The strait—through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes—has seen traffic plummet by about 95% since the outbreak of war involving Iran on February 28.
The disruption has had immediate economic consequences, with crude oil prices surging by approximately 45% to $106 per barrel, intensifying pressure on households and businesses worldwide.
The call comes ahead of an emergency Cobra meeting to be chaired by Starmer, where senior officials including Andrew Bailey are expected to assess the conflict’s impact on the UK economy, particularly the rising cost of living. Key cabinet members, including the chancellor, foreign secretary, and energy secretary, will also attend discussions focused on energy security, supply chains, and the broader international response.
Tensions in the region have escalated sharply following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, after which Tehran effectively blocked the strategic strait. In response, Trump issued a stark warning, threatening to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the passage is not reopened within 48 hours.
Iran has retaliated with its own warnings, signalling it could target US-linked energy infrastructure across the Gulf if military action intensifies. The risk of further escalation has raised fears of prolonged disruption to global oil flows.
Meanwhile, the UK government has begun implementing measures to cushion the domestic impact. Housing Secretary Steve Reed announced a £53 million support package aimed at helping households cope with rising heating oil costs.
Despite the heightened tensions, Reed said there was currently no specific intelligence suggesting that Iran is directly targeting the UK. However, concerns remain after Iran reportedly launched ballistic missiles towards the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. According to Reed, one missile failed mid-flight while another was intercepted.
In a further sign of deepening involvement, the UK has authorised the US to use British military bases to launch strikes on Iranian targets linked to the Strait of Hormuz—marking a shift from its earlier position, which limited such cooperation to defensive operations.
As diplomatic and military tensions continue to mount, both London and Washington appear focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to prevent further economic fallout and avert a deeper global energy crisis.
Melissa Enoch
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