UK, France To Co-Host 40 Nations This Week For Talks To Restore Hormuz Traffic

Last Updated:April 13, 2026, 16:48 IST

UK and France to co-host summit of over 40 nations on Strait of Hormuz, plan defensive mission to protect shipping as US plans naval blockade and Iran warns it will fight.

As tensions over Strait of Hormuz continue, UK and France will co-host a summit of 40 nations this week to restore “freedom of navigation".

In a post on X, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern over the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and called it as “deeply damaging". He pointed out that movement of global shipping “is vital to ease cost of living pressures".

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“The UK has convened more than 40 nations who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation. This week the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends," he said.

The strait is one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, accounting for roughly 20% of global oil shipments before the conflict began. Although limited commercial traffic has resumed since the ceasefire, shipping activity remains far below normal levels.

Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron said no effort should be spared “to swiftly reach, through diplomatic means, a strong and lasting settlement to the conflict".

He said: “Such a settlement must provide the region with a robust framework enabling all to live in peace and security."

The President further said that the discussions should be focused on addressing “lasting solutions, whether with regard to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic activities, its destabilizing actions in the region, the need to restore free and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible, as well as the need to ensure that Lebanon returns to the path of peace in full respect of its sovereignty and territorial integrity".

“As regards the Strait of Hormuz, in the coming days, together with the United Kingdom, we will organize a conference with those countries prepared to contribute alongside us to a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait. This strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties to the conflict, is intended to be deployed as soon as circumstances permit," he added.

This comes hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin a naval blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian ports at 10:00 am Eastern Time (7:30 pm IST), signalling a major escalation as tensions in West Asia intensify following the collapse of ceasefire talks.

Trump has repeatedly blamed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for the failure of the talks, insisting that Washington remains prepared to use all available options.

Tehran, however, has responded with defiance. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued a blunt warning, saying, “If you fight, we will fight."

News world UK, France To Co-Host 40 Nations This Week For Talks To Restore Hormuz Traffic

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