UK pledges autonomous vessels to Strait of Hormuz mission pending ceasefire
The U.K. on Tuesday offered autonomous surface vessels to a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on a durable ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Defence Secretary John Healey made the pledge while chairing a meeting of defense ministers in London. The offer comes as Iran sent a counteroffer to the U.S. on Sunday that President Donald Trump rejected as "totally unacceptable."
LONDON — The U.K. on Tuesday pledged to provide autonomous vessels to a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on a durable ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
Defence Secretary John Healey made the offer while chairing a meeting of defense ministers in London, offering British-built uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to a U.K.-French-led mission. The vessels would be in addition to U.K. autonomous minehunting systems and the forward deployment of HMS Dragon, a Type-45 Destroyer.
A Downing Street spokesperson said ministers had "agreed that number one priority remains getting the Strait of Hormuz open again, so that international shipping can resume."
Iran sent a counteroffer to the U.S. on Sunday outlining its demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, calling it "totally unacceptable" and a "piece of garbage." Trump described the existing ceasefire as "unbelievably weak."
Healey posted on X backing Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid calls from dozens of Labour MPs for Starmer to quit, writing: "People are worried about current conflicts and looming global crises. They expect their government to lead the country through, as the PM is doing. More instability is not in Britain’s interest. Our full focus now must be on dealing with immediate economic [and] security challenges."