Trump and Starmer agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened amid conflict
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President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East, focusing on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return ships around the world.
The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in order to resume shipping around the world, a Downing Street statement said.
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Keir Stamer, UK prime minister, during a news conference providing an update on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in London, UK, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was important to ensure stability in the global energy market. They agreed to talk again soon.”
The call came amid rapidly escalating tensions in the region, with Iran blocking the most significant crisis since the United States and Israel launched targeted strikes against Iranian targets on February 28.
The military action prompted swift retaliation from Tehran and has since escalated into a regional war as Iran has sent missiles to several neighboring countries not directly involved in the initial conflict.
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President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House, on St. Patrick, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
On March 21, Trump issued a 48-hour executive order to Iran demanding the reopening of the vital sea route, through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil flows.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that failure to comply would lead to further US action, including possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
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Bulk Carrier, Belray, in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026 north of Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Sunday’s conversation between Trump and Starmer perhaps signaled a thaw in the strained relationship between the two leaders.
Trump had publicly criticized the UK government, saying Britain “should have acted very quickly” for allowing the US to use British military bases for strikes against Iran’s missile sites.
Starmer also insisted that the use of UK bases could only be justified under the principle of “collective defence” in the region.
He initially refused to support US-Israeli military operations, drawing repeated criticism from the White House.
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Meanwhile, Trump appeared to be tapping into public pressure, sharing a clip on “Saturday Night Live” Sunday mocking the British prime minister’s handling of the crisis.
