‘We don’t support Trump blockade': How UK's Keir Starmer and Germany reacted

Day after United States President Donald Trump’s announced his plan for a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran threatening to retaliate against ports of its Gulf neighbours, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has once again reiterated the country's position in West Asia war.

Keir Starmer on Monday said that his country will not be part of a US blockade of Iranian ports. Speaking with BBC radio, Keir Starmer said that “we are not supporting the blockade” and the UK wouldn't be “getting dragged into the war.”

Meanwhile, a Germany spokesperson appeared confused on what would be blocked by the United States as the negotiation talks failed between the American and Iranian delegations in Pakistan's Islamabad.

He also spoke with Donald Trump and said Britain would send minesweepers to the strait. It had earlier said that Britain would help with the Strait of Hormuz only after the fighting stops.

Starmer said all Britain's military capability is focused on getting the strait "fully open". The UK is working with dozens of other countries on plans to restore security to shipping through the key oil route after the conflict.

Germany, on the other hand, seemed confused. A Germany spokesperson said the government is assuming the US will launch blockade of Iranian ports and not Hormuz.

Turkey's foreign minister raised concerns on Monday about Iran or the United States proposing any new regulations for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and said he saw difficulties around proposals to re-open the waterway with an international force.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, “There are many difficulties to intervening here with an international armed force. Especially as the war continues, how much will it narrow, expand? We see many countries are not keen on this. The problem is whether there will be proposals on new regulations from now on, particularly from Iran,” he said.

“At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted. I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits,” he mentioned further.

(With agency inputs)