UK Calls for Full Restoration of Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz

18/04/2026

LONDON, Apr 18: Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, has called for the full resumption of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the vital waterway has not yet returned to normal operations despite the ongoing ceasefire in the Iran conflict.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya, Cooper said the region is at a “critical diplomatic moment” but stressed that regular maritime passage has not yet been fully restored. She urged Iran to allow unrestricted global shipping through the strait.

Cooper added that the current truce must evolve into a lasting peace and emphasized that restoring full navigation through the waterway is urgent for global economic stability, given its importance for international energy and trade routes.