Keir Starmer arrives in Paris for Strait of Hormuz talks

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Paris for talks with fellow world leaders aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Ahead of the meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir pledged to do “everything I can” to reopen the vital shipping lane.

The strait has been blockaded by Iran since the joint US-Israeli strikes on the country began at the end of February, threatening world oil supplies.

In retaliation, US President Donald Trump has begun his own blockade of Iran’s oil ports, aimed at stemming Tehran’s fossil fuel income, and demanded allied nations help end Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait.

Friday’s meeting at the Elysee Palace brings together 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation to formulate plans for a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation.

Sir Keir met with Mr Macron in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace, the French president’s official residence, where the men shook hands warmly, before posing for photographs.

The two leaders are expected to have a bilateral meeting and lunch before the summit.

The US, Israel and Iran are not expected to attend, but Sir Keir said the meeting could still achieve something.

He told broadcasters: “It is very important that we build a coalition of countries around the principle that the ceasefire should be permanent, there should be a deal, and that the Strait of Hormuz is open.”

Accompanied by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton, the Prime Minister is excepted to tell the meeting: “Emmanuel Macron and I are clear in our commitment to establish a multinational initiative to protect freedom of navigation.

“We must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security.”

The meeting comes as a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel comes into effect, which could help attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the US and Israel and get ships moving through the strait again.

Talks in Paris will be followed by a multinational military planning summit at the UK’s permanent joint headquarters in Northwood, north-west London, next week.

But it remains highly unlikely that any of the countries taking part on Friday will deploy ships to the Strait of Hormuz until hostilities have ceased.

Such a move is deemed too dangerous because of the risk vessels could be attacked from Iran’s shoreline.