Britain set to facilitate discussions on plan to restore shipping lane through Strait of Hormuz, says government spokesperson

A UK defence official revealed to AFP on Wednesday that Britain and France will lead military discussions this week, joined by approximately 30 nations, with the goal of establishing a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands expressed their willingness to contribute to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz last week, a statement that was subsequently endorsed by 24 additional countries.

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A follow-up meeting is anticipated to take place later this week, bringing together the chiefs of defence staff from the expanded group of nations that have now signed on, according to the official.

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On Sunday, Richard Knighton, the chief of the defence staff of Britain's armed forces, chaired a meeting with the initial six countries, plus Canada, as reported by The Times.

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The British defence official stated that other countries may also be invited to participate, emphasizing that Britain recognizes its role in forming the coalition and helping to develop a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible.

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According to the official, Knighton is working closely with Fabien Mandon, the French armed forces chief of staff, to achieve this goal.

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The UK has offered to host a future summit in either Portsmouth or London, as reported by The Times, with the aim of finalizing details and building the coalition to reopen the waterway when conditions are suitable.

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Since the US-Israeli strikes began on February 28, Iran has effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a significant increase in global oil and gas prices.

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An international summit may seek to address the issue of removing mines, which several countries have accused Iran of laying in the strait, a waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes during peacetime.

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Iran has stated that "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz if they comply with safety and security regulations, according to a statement released to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Tuesday.

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However, the statement emphasized that vessels and assets belonging to the "aggressor parties," including the United States and the Israeli regime, do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage, as shared by the IMO.