Starmer says Strait of Hormuz must stay open after Iran-US peace deal announced

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the US-Iran peace deal as a major breakthrough, calling it a 'hugely important step forward in ending the war' and stressing the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz fully and permanently open. The agreement, confirmed by US President Donald Trump, includes the immediate removal of the US naval blockade and toll-free reopening of the critical shipping route, which has been disrupted by conflict. The UK government stated it would support technical talks to finalize the memorandum of understanding and ensure the Strait’s reopening, alongside international partners. Starmer emphasized that the deal must include robust, verifiable commitments on Iran’s nuclear program, reiterating the UK’s stance that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. The UK is prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear Iranian actions on its nuclear activities. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated the talks, announced the deal covers Lebanon, with military operations terminating immediately on all fronts. An official signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, following pre-implementation discussions this week. However, full details of the agreement remain undisclosed, and the timeline for the Strait’s full reopening to global shipping is uncertain. The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint due to Iran’s control over the waterway, disrupting oil and gas supplies and inflating global fuel and food prices. Negotiations also centered on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with the US and Israel expressing concerns over its uranium enrichment, despite Tehran’s claims of peaceful intentions. Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform, authorizing the immediate removal of the naval blockade and declaring the Strait open for toll-free shipping. The US president is expected to discuss the agreement further with allies at next week’s G7 summit. While the deal marks a potential turning point, challenges remain in ensuring its full implementation, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear commitments and the restoration of unrestricted navigation in the Strait.