British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the peace agreement between the United States and Iran as "a hugely significant step forward towards ending the war," stressing that the Strait of Hormuz must remain "fully and permanently open."
The Prime Minister congratulated US President Donald Trump and the key mediators on this "great achievement" after the American president said the deal "is now complete" and that the oil and gas shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened free of charge.
In a statement, Starmer said: "I warmly welcome the agreement reached today between the United States and Iran," according to PA Media.
He added: "This is a hugely significant step forward towards ending the war, ensuring regional stability, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz."
He continued: "Attention must now turn to full implementation of the memorandum of understanding to ensure the Strait is reopened and remains fully and permanently open, and to completing the detailed elements of the nuclear agreement. We are ready to support the technical talks that will now begin. Our priority is for this to become a lasting and enduring peace, and we will work with international partners to support that."
He added: "We are clear on the need to restore free and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz now, to begin to ease the severe economic effects felt by families here in the United Kingdom and around the world for several months."
Starmer noted that the United Kingdom will activate the British- and French-led defence mission to help clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased.
He said: "For any peace to endure, it is essential that the commitments made, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear programme, are robust, verifiable, and fully enforced. The United Kingdom's longstanding position remains that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon."
In a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy, Starmer also said: "We are ready to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear and verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme."
The group, known as the "European Quartet," also affirmed the importance of "unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation" through the Strait, and called for "swift and comprehensive implementation of the agreement."
Trump had earlier stated that a deal had been reached and that he had agreed to end the US naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.