The United Kingdom and France will jointly host a multinational meeting of defence ministers on Tuesday to discuss military plans aimed at restoring trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, reports AFP.
The announcement came hours after Iran warned London and Paris against deploying warships to the region.
A statement from the British Defence Ministry said UK Defence Secretary John Healey and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin will co-chair the virtual meeting involving representatives from more than 40 countries.
The meeting follows a two-day gathering of military planners held in London in April, where discussions focused on the practical aspects of a UK-France-led multinational mission to protect navigation through the strategic waterway following a sustainable ceasefire.
“We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Healey said.
The development comes as both Britain and France have sent naval assets to the Middle East.
France has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while Britain announced on Saturday that it was sending the destroyer HMS Dragon to the region.
Both countries described the deployments as “pre-positioning” measures ahead of any possible international mission to safeguard maritime trade routes.
However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned on Sunday that British, French or any foreign warships entering the area would face “a decisive and immediate response.”
“Only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron later said Paris had “never envisaged” a naval deployment directly in the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a security mission that would be coordinated with Iran.
Speaking in Nairobi, Macron reiterated his opposition to any blockade and rejected the imposition of tolls on ships passing through the strategic waterway.
Britain and France last month said plans for securing the strait were progressing.
The British Defence Ministry said the deployment of HMS Dragon would help restore confidence among commercial shipping operators and support mine-clearing efforts once hostilities end.
Before the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, trade flows have been severely disrupted since the conflict escalated and Iran largely closed the strait, causing volatility in global markets and driving up oil prices.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
