UK Leader Criticizes Trump's Strait of Hormuz Blockade Threat Amid Ceasefire

UK Prime Minister Condemns US President's Rhetoric UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Donald Trump's threat that a 'whole civilisation' would die unless Iran agreed to end the war was 'wrong'.

In a statement to MPs, Starmer said he would not have used the same words as the US president did last week before a two-week ceasefire was agreed. Starmer added: 'In relation to the language about destroying a civilisation... that was wrong.

' Starmer stated that these are civilians who have suffered immeasurable harm by the regime in Iran for many years. The US and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, 7 April. The BBC reported these statements from Starmer during his address in the House of Commons.

US Announces Blockade of Strait of Hormuz Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Monday that Iranian naval ships approaching the US blockade would be 'immediately eliminated'.

Trump said the US would start blockading all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz after the weekend peace talks. Weekend peace talks between the US and Iran ended without a deal. The US blockade is aimed at preventing Tehran from benefitting from tolls levied on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and the revenues from oil exports.

Around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively cut off the Strait of Hormuz waterway since US-Israeli strikes began on 28 February. Iran is still restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz and has selectively let through some vessels.

The BBC reported on the ceasefire agreement and the ongoing restrictions.

UK Stays Out of Conflict, Focuses on Diplomacy Sir Keir Starmer said in a Commons statement that the UK would continue to stay out of the war and was focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Starmer said the UK and France would host a summit focused on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as well as military planning to provide assurance to shipping when the situation was stable again. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that while Trump did not follow through on his threat against Iran, 'these words are a stark reminder of how reckless, immoral, and completely outside the bounds of international law this president is'.

Davey said that Trump's plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz 'will only escalate this crisis and jeopardise the precarious ceasefire'.

Opposition Welcomes Summit, Calls for Defence Measures Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the UK-France summit move.

Badenoch called on the government to publish its long-delayed defence investment plan and give the go-ahead to drilling of oil and gas in the North Sea. The BBC reported these positions from UK political figures in response to the international developments.