UK Prime Minister Starmer: Britain Does Not Support US Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK does not support a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and will not participate in such actions, prioritizing the reopening of the strait and restoration of international shipping. He emphasized that the UK's focus is on ensuring the strait is fully open to prevent rising energy prices. A study by the Resolution Foundation also indicated that Middle East conflicts could reduce average UK household disposable income by £480 this year due to increased energy costs.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 20:23
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 20:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 22:31 (49h 59m after Collected)
Middle East War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yun-yu, London, April 13) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today confirmed that the UK does not support the US imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated that Britain's priority is to ensure the strait is reopened and international shipping resumes.
Starmer said that the UK continues to discuss feasible solutions with allies to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the UK possesses the necessary mine-sweeping capabilities, which can be used to clear mines laid by Iran. According to official UK statements to date, mine-sweeping is expected to commence only after the cessation of hostilities.
After 21 hours of marathon negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, mediated by Pakistan, yielded no results, US President Donald Trump threatened on social media on April 12 that the US Navy would initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, applicable to all vessels attempting to enter or leave the strait.
Trump declared that he had instructed the US Navy to interdict all vessels in international waters that had paid passage fees to Iran, and that the US would proceed to destroy mines laid by Iran in the strait.
Trump threatened that anyone who had paid illegal passage fees to Iran should not expect safe passage on the high seas; furthermore, Iran's extortion through mine-laying would not be tolerated by the US.
However, despite Trump's claim that "other countries will participate in this blockade," Starmer, in an interview with British media today, confirmed that the UK does not support the US blockade, will not participate in related actions, and will continue to avoid being drawn into the conflict.
Starmer said that as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed or vessels cannot pass freely as they should, it means oil and natural gas cannot enter the market, prices will rise, and energy bills will increase, and he does not want to see such a situation.
Starmer reiterated that the most urgent task is to facilitate the opening of the strait, and to ensure it is "completely open." Although he disagrees with Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Starmer mentioned that the main problem lies with Iran's initial closure or partial closure of the strait.
On the other hand, the British think tank "Resolution Foundation," considered close to the ruling Labour Party, today released research results showing the impact of the Middle East conflict on the living standards of the British public. Referring to various market prices, due to the war, the disposable income of the median working-age British household is expected to decrease by £480 (approximately NT$20,000) this year.
The Foundation estimated that before the outbreak of war, the average British household could have expected an income growth of 0.9%, but now income may instead decline by 0.6%. The main reasons for this phenomenon include rising energy prices, and although the US and Iran recently announced a 14-day ceasefire, this news has had a limited impact on energy market trends.
British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to announce later this week what measures the government will take to further assist British businesses and the public in coping with price pressures. Prior to this, Reeves will attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings held in Washington D.C. from April 13 to 18.
Reeves did not shy away from stating in an interview with BBC Radio 2 on April 1 that she was "furious with Trump's decision to start a war in the Middle East."
Reeves said that this was a "war without a clear exit strategy," and therefore the UK was "unwilling to join."
Reeves mentioned that the British government's borrowing costs had soared "through the roof," and that the UK itself had "done nothing to cause (borrowing) costs to rise so much."
Reeves believes that Trump's decisions are putting everyone in a truly difficult situation. "People can see that what Trump is doing in the Middle East will bring economic challenges to various parts of the world," potential challenges include increased inflation, slower economic growth, and reduced tax revenue.
In addition to Reeves, Starmer also made unusually sharp criticisms of Trump's foreign actions on April 9. Starmer told ITV during a visit to the Middle East that British households and businesses had to endure fluctuations in energy bills, and he was "fed up" with this situation.
Starmer said that such fluctuations in energy bills were caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin "or what Trump is doing around the world." (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150413
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yun-yu, London, April 13) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today confirmed that the UK does not support the US imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated that Britain's priority is to ensure the strait is reopened and international shipping resumes.
Starmer said that the UK continues to discuss feasible solutions with allies to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the UK possesses the necessary mine-sweeping capabilities, which can be used to clear mines laid by Iran. According to official UK statements to date, mine-sweeping is expected to commence only after the cessation of hostilities.
After 21 hours of marathon negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, mediated by Pakistan, yielded no results, US President Donald Trump threatened on social media on April 12 that the US Navy would initiate a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, applicable to all vessels attempting to enter or leave the strait.
Trump declared that he had instructed the US Navy to interdict all vessels in international waters that had paid passage fees to Iran, and that the US would proceed to destroy mines laid by Iran in the strait.
Trump threatened that anyone who had paid illegal passage fees to Iran should not expect safe passage on the high seas; furthermore, Iran's extortion through mine-laying would not be tolerated by the US.
However, despite Trump's claim that "other countries will participate in this blockade," Starmer, in an interview with British media today, confirmed that the UK does not support the US blockade, will not participate in related actions, and will continue to avoid being drawn into the conflict.
Starmer said that as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed or vessels cannot pass freely as they should, it means oil and natural gas cannot enter the market, prices will rise, and energy bills will increase, and he does not want to see such a situation.
Starmer reiterated that the most urgent task is to facilitate the opening of the strait, and to ensure it is "completely open." Although he disagrees with Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Starmer mentioned that the main problem lies with Iran's initial closure or partial closure of the strait.
On the other hand, the British think tank "Resolution Foundation," considered close to the ruling Labour Party, today released research results showing the impact of the Middle East conflict on the living standards of the British public. Referring to various market prices, due to the war, the disposable income of the median working-age British household is expected to decrease by £480 (approximately NT$20,000) this year.
The Foundation estimated that before the outbreak of war, the average British household could have expected an income growth of 0.9%, but now income may instead decline by 0.6%. The main reasons for this phenomenon include rising energy prices, and although the US and Iran recently announced a 14-day ceasefire, this news has had a limited impact on energy market trends.
British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to announce later this week what measures the government will take to further assist British businesses and the public in coping with price pressures. Prior to this, Reeves will attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings held in Washington D.C. from April 13 to 18.
Reeves did not shy away from stating in an interview with BBC Radio 2 on April 1 that she was "furious with Trump's decision to start a war in the Middle East."
Reeves said that this was a "war without a clear exit strategy," and therefore the UK was "unwilling to join."
Reeves mentioned that the British government's borrowing costs had soared "through the roof," and that the UK itself had "done nothing to cause (borrowing) costs to rise so much."
Reeves believes that Trump's decisions are putting everyone in a truly difficult situation. "People can see that what Trump is doing in the Middle East will bring economic challenges to various parts of the world," potential challenges include increased inflation, slower economic growth, and reduced tax revenue.
In addition to Reeves, Starmer also made unusually sharp criticisms of Trump's foreign actions on April 9. Starmer told ITV during a visit to the Middle East that British households and businesses had to endure fluctuations in energy bills, and he was "fed up" with this situation.
Starmer said that such fluctuations in energy bills were caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin "or what Trump is doing around the world." (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150413
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.