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UK Rallies 40 Nations to Press Iran to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Allies pivot to sanctions after weeks of near‑paralysis in the Gulf.

Overview

  • The UK-led virtual meeting, held Thursday, drew more than 40 countries and produced a push to explore coordinated sanctions and to reject Iranian transit fees.
  • Traffic through the choke point has plunged from roughly 150 daily crossings to 25 in the last 24 hours, leaving about 2,000 ships and 20,000 mariners stuck in Gulf waters.
  • Gulf states asked the UN Security Council to authorize force to guarantee navigation, but a Bahrain-backed draft has run into objections from Russia, China and France.
  • President Donald Trump posted video of fresh US strikes and warned of more attacks, while saying countries that rely on the route should secure it themselves.
  • France ruled out a direct military bid to pry the waterway open, and allied planners will meet next week to weigh defensive steps such as mine clearance once a cease-fire allows.