According to Axios, citing European diplomats and informed sources, the United States and the United Kingdom are preparing to hold a high-level meeting in London next week. The agenda is to discuss forming an international coalition to protect maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amidst ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The report highlights that reopening the strait to commercial shipping is a primary objective of the U.S. strategy to de-escalate the confrontation with Iran, serving as a crucial step to maintain the stability of global energy markets.
The meeting's date and agenda have not been finalized, but it is anticipated that U.S. and UK defense ministers, along with senior military leaders from several Western and regional countries, will attend. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Cain are expected to be present.
The website mentions that the U.S. administration aims to build on previous consultations led by the UK and France with multiple nations on forming an international naval force to secure navigation. However, some countries condition participation on halting hostilities around the strait before engaging in any joint military mission.
According to the sources, Washington is seeking contributions from allied countries in terms of military capabilities, including minesweeping ships, maritime units, and drones, to secure commercial shipping routes in the strait.
Conversely, Iran maintains its stance on the Strait of Hormuz. The site quotes Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stating that the dispute with the United States is not about a lack of mediators but rather about the American approach. He asserted that Tehran would not succumb to pressure and would continue to defend its interests in the strait.
Araghchi also had a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, discussing maritime security and ways to prevent further escalation, as part of diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis.
The report concludes by noting that the United States seeks to rally allied support to secure one of the world's most crucial maritime passages. A European diplomat told the site: "The Americans are searching for a way out, and they want our help."
Information in this report is based on details sourced from Axios via diplomatic and informed sources. There has yet to be any official comment from the White House, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the UK government regarding the meeting's specifics.