UK and France to lead multinational mission to protect Strait of Hormuz, says PM

The UK and France will coordinate a peaceful mission to defend the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Sir Keir Starmer said. 

The Prime Minister said that the mission would be made operational "as soon as conditions allow", after the Iran war is over. 

Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron hosted a meeting of world leaders in Paris on efforts to safeguard the flow of shipping through the vital oil and gas route. 

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As the talks took place in the French capital, Tehran said it has reopened the Strait to shipping, in a move welcomed by US president Donald Trump. 

"I can confirm that along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow," Sir Keir said. 

"This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance.

"We invite all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us. Some have already indicated their readiness to contribute.

"We will take this forward with a military planning conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets."

The Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, which involved roughly 40 countries, was a virtual meeting held in the French capital. 

It focused on supporting the fragile ceasefire in the region and ensuring shipping routes are reopened.

What vessels would be able to be used in any possible mission? 

The assets available for the UK to send to the Persian Gulf, include RFA Lyme Bay. This Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship was deployed from Gibraltar during Operation Epic Fury but subsequently returned to Gibraltar in late March. 

Her sister ship RFA Cardigan Bay has operated in the past as a mothership for Mine Counter Measures Vessels in the Gulf deployed on Operation Kipion.

However, the UK withdrew the four minehunting vessels that were in the Gulf, with the last one returning to Portsmouth on 8 March. Simultaneously, the US navy withdrew the mine hunters also stationed in the Gulf, with the last ones reaching America just before Op Epic Fury began. 

The UK has X-Ray Squadron of the Royal Navy Mine and Threat Exploitation Group stationed in Bahrain. This unit could deploy onto RFA Lyme Bay to work on clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz. It is possible the Iranians did not lay mines in the Strait. 

The Royal Navy could also deploy Autonomous Mine Counter Measures vessels. They have several Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) Harrier available. These unmanned vessels are ideal as they do not risk a crew. 

Additional reporting by Richard White.