The United Kingdom and France are set to co-host a multinational meeting on Tuesday aimed at turning diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz into a practical security operation, as Western powers seek to stabilise the strategically important waterway after months of conflict and disruption.
More than 40 nations are expected to join the virtual gathering of defence ministers, co-chaired by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and French minister Catherine Vautrin, in what London described as the first ministerial-level meeting for the planned multinational mission.
The talks come at a delicate moment for the region. Although a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel has eased fears of an immediate escalation, tensions continue to simmer and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted.
The narrow waterway, which links the Gulf to the Arabian Sea, normally carries around a fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
Since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February, however, shipping through the strait has been heavily disrupted after Tehran largely closed the route and imposed restrictions on maritime traffic.
France positions aircraft carrier for possible mission in Strait of Hormuz
Ahead of the meeting, Healey said the UK and its partners were focused on restoring confidence in global shipping routes.
"We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
Traffic restrictions have resulted in a squeeze on global energy supplies and a sharp rise in oil prices in recent months, and renewed concerns about the vulnerability of international trade routes.
France and the UK have begun positioning military assets in the region in preparation for a possible future security mission. France has deployed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while the UK announced at the weekend its destroyer HMS Dragon was being sent to the Middle East as part of what officials described as “prudent planning”.
Deterrence and diplomacy
Even as military preparations advance, both London and Paris have sought to emphasise that any future operation would be designed to support regional stability rather than provoke confrontation with Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron stressed on Sunday that Paris had "never envisaged" a naval deployment directly into the Strait of Hormuz itself, instead describing the proposed initiative as a broader security mission that would be "coordinated with Iran".
Macron also reiterated his opposition to any blockade in the region and rejected the idea of imposing tolls on vessels crossing the strategic waterway.
That balancing act reflects growing concerns in European capitals about the risk of renewed conflict derailing fragile diplomatic efforts.
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Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, warned the UK and France over the weekend that any deployment of foreign warships into the strait would meet “a decisive and immediate response”.
"Only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait," he said.
Tehran has nevertheless continued to signal that it remains open to a negotiated settlement, provided its core demands are addressed.
On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described Tehran’s latest proposal to Washington as both "legitimate" and "generous", saying Iran was seeking an end to the war, the lifting of the US blockade and the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.
He added that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and wider regional security guarantees also formed part of Tehran’s offer.
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US rejection
Despite those overtures, diplomatic progress appears increasingly uncertain, after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest response to Washington’s peace proposal.
Trump described Tehran’s terms as "totally unacceptable" in a social media post on Sunday, without disclosing further details of the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that major obstacles remained before any durable settlement could be reached, insisting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would still need to be dismantled.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground continue to threaten the fragile ceasefire.
Gulf states reported fresh drone incidents on Sunday, including interceptions over the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, while Qatar said a freighter entering its waters had been struck by a drone.
(with newswires)
