Oman Agrees With Britain, France To Safeguard Hormuz Shipping

00:10 4.7.2026

The British and French leaders said the Gulf state of Oman has agreed to work with the two European countries to ensure that the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains open to world shipping.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy. Restoring safe transit for ships of all nations through the strait is a matter of global concern,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement on July 3.

“The Sultanate of Oman has agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure that its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation,” the statement added.

The important waterway — through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas transits – was effectively blocked by Iran in response to the US and Israeli air strikes beginning on February 28.

The move, and a subsequent blockade of Iranian ports by US forces, sent global fuel prices soaring.

As part of a now-fragile cease-fire between Iran and the US, the shipping lane has been reopened, although incidents in and around the strait have kept tensions high in the region.

Britain and France have been preparing to launch a coordinated mission to keep the strait free from future blockades, although no specific plans have been announced.

“The United Kingdom and France reaffirm their shared commitment to regional stability, respect for the sovereignty of all states, and their willingness to maintain close cooperation with their partners in order to uphold global security, freedom of navigation and international law,” the statement by Starmer and Macron said.

With reporting by dpa

Source: blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=461550

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