UK and France to lead defensive mission in Strait of Hormuz

UK and France to lead defensive mission in Strait of Hormuz17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleCachella SmithReutersSir Keir said more details of the mission will be announced next weekThe UK and France will lead a multinational mission to protect commercial shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, Sir Keir Starmer has said.Speaking after a meeting of 49 countries, the prime minister underlined the work would be "strictly peaceful and defensive" and would only be put in place once fighting in the region ends.Iran effectively blocked the waterway since the US and Israel attacked the country in late February, driving up global energy and fuel prices.On Friday, Iran's foreign minister said the route was now "completely open" and US President Donald Trump confirmed the news and criticised Nato for being "useless when needed".Tehran promised the strait will be completely open to commercial vessels until the middle of next week, when a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran will end.Trump said his own naval blockade of vessels moving in and out of Iranian ports would remain in force.Declaring that the "Hormuz Strait situation is over", he added that he had received a call from Nato offering help."I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!"Trump has repeatedly criticised Nato, and more specifically the UK, during the Iran war.Sir Keir's position has been that the UK would not be "dragged" into the conflict and he previously said the UK would not support the blockade.Meanwhile, the UK prime minister said dozens of countries had offered to "contribute assets" to the joint mission with France. "This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance," he said alongside French President Emmanuel Macron."We invite all natio...