Washington and London are pushing to create an international mechanism to ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Axios, a high-level meeting is planned for next week in Britain’s capital, where the formation of a coalition will be discussed. The meeting comes amid a temporary lull in attacks on merchant vessels and a surge in regional diplomacy aimed at stabilizing one of the world’s key sea routes.
According to sources, the meeting may include the US and UK defense ministers and senior military officials, as well as representatives of a number of Western and regional states. On the US side, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and General Dan Keane, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to travel to London. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the event is being prepared, but the British embassy in Washington has so far declined to comment.
The plan is seen by the US as a strategic priority: restoring normal commercial shipping through the strait is necessary to mitigate the fallout from the conflict with Iran and to stabilize oil markets. As Axios reports, Washington is asking allies to provide minesweepers, patrol vessels, and unmanned drones. One European diplomat said: “The Americans are looking for a way out of the situation and asking for our help.”
The initiative is gaining momentum after four days without Iranian attacks on merchant ships in the strait, but against the backdrop of a two-week escalation in which the US carried out daily strikes on Iranian military facilities along the southern coast. Opinions within the Pentagon have diverged: some officials believe the bombardments have weakened Tehran’s capabilities, while others warn that Iran can still attack ships. Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump threatened to strike bridges and power plants, including in Tehran, and the Iranian side responded with threats to target infrastructure in the Persian Gulf states.
A number of countries are making full cessation of hostilities in the strait area a condition for participation in the naval mission. Paris and London insist that practical work will begin only after a permanent ceasefire regime is put in place, and that current steps are preparatory and preventive in nature. The Franco-British initiative, launched back in May, envisages a defensive and non-attack posture for the future forces.
The tasks of the future alliance will include escorting commercial ships and oil tankers through the strait, clearing the waters of mines, preventing seizures and incidents, and supporting stability in the global energy market—before the war, about a fifth of the world’s oil passed through the strait. Alongside military preparations, diplomatic work is also under way: Iran’s Foreign Ministry chief Abbas Araghchi returned to consultations after an unsuccessful round involving Oman, Iran, and Qatar; an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran to resume negotiations on opening the strait. Araghchi himself said that “the problem between us and the United States is not the absence of a mediator, but the American approach.”
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Who is Abbas Araghchi and what role does he play in Iranian foreign policy? - Abbas Araghchi is a senior Iranian diplomat who serves as Iran’s foreign minister. Previously, he was the chief negotiator on the nuclear program, representing Iran in talks with the “P5+1” (the US, the UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia) in 2013–2015. He is known for his technocratic and pragmatic line and is considered the architect of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). His duties include balancing a hardline stance at home with the need for pragmatic dialogue with the West.
Why do Oman and Qatar traditionally act as intermediaries between Iran and Western countries? - Oman and Qatar play the role of intermediaries thanks to their historically neutral position in the region, close economic ties with Iran (especially in the gas sector), and good contacts with the United States. Oman, for example, maintained secret channels of communication between Washington and Tehran even after diplomatic relations were severed in 1980. Qatar uses its diplomatic flexibility to reduce tensions, which benefits both sides.
What role does the Strait of Hormuz play in Iran’s deterrence strategy, and why does Tehran periodically threaten to block it? - The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic transport corridor through which about 20–25% of the world’s oil supplies pass. For Iran, the threat of blocking it is a tool of asymmetric deterrence in response to sanctions or military threats from the US and its allies. This allows Tehran to pressure global oil prices and create economic instability. However, a full blockade is unlikely, as it would harm Iran itself: Iran exports oil through the strait and depends on international trade.
Full version: هل يدخل مضيق هرمز مرحلة جديدة؟ تحرك أمريكي بريطاني لتشكيل قوة بحرية