British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the United Kingdom will not support a proposed American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes. Speaking in a Radio 5 Live interview on Tuesday, Starmer was unequivocal: "We're not supporting blockade."

The statement comes as tensions in the region remain high following conflict between the United States and Iran. US President Donald Trump has proposed enforcing a naval blockade of the strait, a move that would have sweeping consequences for global energy markets. Starmer, who returned last week from a tour of Gulf states, framed Britain's position not as a rejection of its alliance with Washington, but as a matter of economic urgency for British households. "The strait is shut or not free for navigation in the way it should be. That means oil and gas is not getting to market. That means the price is going up. That means everybody listening to this is facing higher energy bills," he said, adding that keeping the strait open was "vital."

Starmer acknowledged that Britain does have minesweeping capability deployed in the region — vessels designed to detect and neutralise naval mines — and indicated that this capability was "focused from our point of view on getting the Strait fully open." While declining to discuss specific operational matters, he confirmed that the UK has been in active discussions with allies about how to restore freedom of navigation once the immediate conflict subsides.

The prime minister is expected to make a formal statement to Members of Parliament later on Tuesday, providing a fuller update on the UK's response to the Iran war and his recent Gulf diplomacy. The government's position signals a notable divergence from Washington's approach, even as London seeks to maintain close transatlantic ties.

The stakes for ordinary consumers are considerable. With the strait disrupted, analysts warn that sustained supply constraints could push energy prices significantly higher. The Resolution Foundation, a UK think tank, has already estimated that the typical British household is on course to be £480 worse off this year due to the energy price shock — a figure that could worsen if the waterway remains closed to normal shipping traffic.