Sputnik Globe
In summer 2026, former UK prime minister Keir Starmer said that London and Paris would lead an international military mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as "conditions allow."
Bahroon recalled that Europeans managed to launch the Aspides naval operation to protect navigation in the Red Sea much quicker.
On February 28, the US and Israel began striking targets in Iran, prompting retaliation from Iran. Despite a lull in the conflict, it remains unresolved, and there is a risk of a resumption of hostilities.
The escalation of the conflict has virtually halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key supply route for global oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas. As a result, fuel prices have risen in most countries.