UK and France to cooperate with Oman on securing Strait of Hormuz navigation
Britain and France have agreed with Oman to enhance safety in the Gulf's territorial waters, deploying mine-countermeasure vessels and offering a multinational mission to support freedom of navigation.
Oman has agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to keep its territorial waters safe for commercial shipping, the British government said on Saturday. The arrangement comes as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have increased following a U.S.–Iran agreement to reopen the lane.
"The U.K. and France also stand ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement with President Emmanuel Macron.
France confirmed that it has sent mine-countermeasure assets to the region, including two mine-hunting ships, two frigates and a maritime patrol aircraft, which it says are prepared to work with partners to resume safe navigation.
"Accompanied by two frigates and a maritime patrol aircraft, these assets are ready to contribute, alongside our partners, to the full resumption of navigation and to ensure the safety of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz," President Macron wrote on X.
The United Kingdom, France and more than two dozen other nations had earlier pledged support for a Multinational Military Mission aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in the strait. Oman’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned that the presence of external powers in the strait could be seen as a military display, stating that security should be the responsibility of the coastal states.
Oman, which borders the strait opposite Iran, has been holding talks with Tehran about a new maritime security framework and the possible introduction of transit fees. The Omani government says any arrangement would comply with international law.
The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik, met Prime Minister Starmer in London on Thursday to discuss de-escalation of regional tensions and the security of Gulf waterways. The meeting follows a June 17 memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran that ended four months of hostilities and set a 60-day period for negotiations toward a permanent peace deal.
Since the agreement, oil exports through the strait have risen sharply; Saudi Arabia alone shipped about 34 million barrels between June 17 and early July, more than double its volume in the preceding weeks. Brent crude prices have fallen about 39 % from their March peaks.