Hegseth Seeks UK and France Support for Hormuz Naval Coalition

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pressing the United Kingdom and France to lead a multinational naval coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative seeks to hunt for sea mines and protect civilian shipping after Iran effectively paralyzed traffic in the strait, leading to rising gas prices. Windward Intelligence reports that no oil tankers crossed the strait on July 27, while vessel crossings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have declined significantly due to a Houthi blockade.

U.S. and British officials plan to host an international conference in London to define the roles of member nations. However, European allies are resisting the push, conditioning their support on an enduring ceasefire in the Iran war. This reluctance stems from frustration over the Trump administration's failure to consult allies before American-Israeli airstrikes in February.

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting affirmed alignment on securing maritime freedom and commercial shipping, but stated that the U.K. will not join offensive military actions in Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign ministry continues to dispute the existence of a ceasefire, with spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stating that current conditions cannot be described as such.