British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the United Kingdom will not participate in the US-proposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes, through which a significant share of the world's oil and gas passes), saying plainly: "We're not supporting blockade." Starmer framed the decision around economic concerns, warning that a closed strait drives up global energy prices and directly raises household bills for British consumers. The announcement came alongside a broader push by Starmer to deepen UK alignment with EU regulations, which he described as essential given the volatility created by the ongoing Iran conflict and wider global instability.
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Sunday, 19 April 2026
UK will not join US blockade of Strait of Hormuz, Starmer confirms[Updated]
Monday, 13 April 2026, 09:41 · 1 min read
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Starmer told parliament this week that the economic and security benefits of closer EU ties are "simply too big to ignore," and the government is preparing to use so-called Henry VIII powers to align dynamically with EU single market rules by default, without requiring full parliamentary scrutiny each time. He also announced that talks aimed at a diplomatic end to the war on Iran and securing safe passage through Gulf shipping lanes will be held this week, co-hosted with France. In his Commons statement, Starmer additionally condemned as "wrong" continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement.
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