STRAIT OF HORMUZ CRISIS

US President Donald Trump has urged the United Kingdom to send warships to the Middle East to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s retaliation in the ongoing conflict continues to disrupt one of the world’s most critical oil routes.

The call comes as shipping through the narrow waterway has effectively ground to a halt following missile, drone and mine attacks linked to the escalating war. Analysts say tanker traffic through the strait has fallen sharply since the fighting began.

Located between Iran and Oman, the Strait of Hormuz is the most important oil chokepoint on the planet. Normally around 20 million barrels of oil per day – roughly one fifth of global supply – pass through the route.

Since the war began in late February, numerous vessels have reportedly been damaged or forced to turn back, while many more have anchored outside the Gulf waiting for the situation to stabilise.

In practical terms, analysts say Iran has been able to use geography to exert enormous leverage over global energy markets.

“Iran cannot permanently close the Strait of Hormuz, but it doesn’t have to,” one maritime security expert said. “If tankers refuse to sail because of the risk of mines, drones or missiles, the effect is almost the same.”

President Trump said Western allies must act together to protect the shipping lanes.

“The UK should be sending warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, calling for an international effort to keep the route open.

The appeal places pressure on the British government to decide whether it will increase its naval presence in the region as tensions escalate.

Britain already maintains naval forces in the Middle East as part of maritime security operations aimed at protecting international trade.

However, the scale of the current disruption has raised fears of a major global energy shock.

Oil prices have surged as markets react to the sudden loss of shipments from the Gulf, with analysts warning that prolonged disruption could trigger wider economic consequences.

The conflict has also exposed the strategic advantage Iran holds through its position along the Strait of Hormuz.

Even without a formal blockade, threats from missiles, naval mines and fast-attack craft have been enough to deter much of the commercial traffic.

For now, Tehran appears able to exert pressure on the global economy simply by making the waterway too dangerous for ships to use.

That reality is now forcing governments around the world to consider military options to reopen the route – a move that could risk drawing more countries into an already widening conflict.

With energy markets rattled and tanker traffic stalled, the struggle for control of one of the world’s most vital maritime passages is rapidly becoming a defining front in the war.

THE UK GOVERNMENT has urged its international partners to maintain pressure on Russia after the United States eased sanctions on some shipments of Russian oil already moving through global markets.

Downing Street said Britain would not follow the US move and insisted sanctions remain a key tool in limiting Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine.

The US Treasury confirmed that certain cargoes of Russian oil already in transit would be allowed to continue to their destinations. Officials described the step as a “targeted, short-term measure” designed to help stabilise global energy markets during rising geopolitical tensions.

The announcement comes as oil prices surge amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Iran has threatened further disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil transport routes — following ongoing US-Israeli strikes in the region.

Attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf states have also contributed to uncertainty in global supply.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK’s position remains firm.

“All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest,” the spokesman said.

“Our support for Ukraine is degrading Russia’s ability to wage war, both militarily and financially.”

Energy Minister Michael Shanks also stressed that sanctions remain critical to weakening Russia’s ability to sustain the conflict.

“This is an absolutely critical moment in the Russian aggression against Ukraine and sanctions are important,” he said.

“What we cannot have is Putin sitting in the Kremlin thinking this is an opportunity to invest more in the war machine.”

European leaders have also expressed concern about any relaxation of sanctions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said easing restrictions now would be “wrong”, while French President Emmanuel Macron warned tensions in the Middle East should not become a reason to soften measures against Russia.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned that easing sanctions would be a “serious blow” to Ukraine and could allow Russia to strengthen its military capabilities.

Milford Haven connection

The issue carries particular significance in Pembrokeshire because of the role the Port of Milford Haven plays in the UK’s energy infrastructure.

In the early days following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, vessels carrying Russian fuel became the focus of controversy across Europe.

One tanker transporting Russian diesel that had been expected to unload in Milford Haven was later diverted to Antwerp amid political pressure and uncertainty over sanctions.

Another vessel carrying Russian crude did berth in the Milford Haven Waterway and unload at the Valero refinery terminal before the UK introduced a full ban on Russian oil imports later that year.

Across the UK, some energy workers refused to handle Russian cargoes during the early stages of the conflict, forcing certain tankers to divert to other European ports.

Large oil tankers arriving in Milford Haven berth at deep-water terminals and refinery jetties along the waterway rather than traditional docks, allowing the port to handle some of the largest vessels operating in European waters.

The waterway remains one of the UK’s most important energy hubs, handling crude oil, refined fuel products and liquefied natural gas imports.

Impact on fuel prices

The rising price of oil is already feeding through to motorists and households, with petrol prices climbing and heating oil costs increasing in recent weeks.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband warned that regulators would intervene if energy companies attempt to exploit the situation by raising prices excessively.

“We will not tolerate rip-offs,” he said, adding that the competition watchdog is ready to act if necessary.

Opposition parties have meanwhile called on the government to cancel a planned increase in fuel duty scheduled for September if the crisis continues.

With tensions rising both in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, ministers say global energy markets could remain volatile for some time — with potential consequences for fuel costs and supply security across the UK.

RISING tensions in the Middle East could have implications for energy supplies reaching Wales, experts have warned, as concerns grow over potential disruption to Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Industry analysts say the deployment of naval mines in the strategic waterway could significantly delay the resumption of Qatari LNG exports, even if production facilities return to normal operation quickly.

The warning is particularly relevant for Pembrokeshire, where the South Hook LNG Terminal at Milford Haven—one of Europe’s largest LNG import facilities—is majority owned by Qatar and plays a key role in supplying gas to the UK.

Security experts told specialist energy service Montel News that any mining of the strait could make reopening the route “far more complex and gradual,” potentially keeping global gas supplies tight and prices elevated for longer.

Wael Abdel Moati, global gas expert and Chief Gas Officer at the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, said that restoring LNG supply levels could take “significantly longer than expected” if naval mines were present.

“Even if LNG production and exports were to resume quickly, the presence of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz would make the reopening of the waterway far more complex and gradual,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. A large proportion of the world’s LNG shipments—including exports from Qatar—must pass through the narrow channel between Iran and Oman before reaching global markets.

Any disruption there has immediate consequences for Europe and the UK, both of which rely heavily on LNG imports.

For Pembrokeshire, the stakes are particularly high. Tankers carrying Qatari LNG regularly dock at South Hook LNG in Milford Haven, where the gas is processed and fed directly into the UK’s national grid.

The terminal is a critical part of Britain’s energy infrastructure and has been central to the country’s gas supply since it opened in 2009.

Military analysts say clearing naval mines from the strait could require significant military operations before normal shipping resumes.

Derek Steel, managing director of security consultancy Chartsec and a former UK special forces officer, said minesweeping operations and naval escorts would likely be required before LNG carriers could safely pass through the area.

He said the United States and its allies would need to neutralise Iranian naval capabilities before shipping lanes could be considered secure.

Even after mines are cleared, experts warn that LNG carriers may require naval escort through the strait until shipowners and insurers regain confidence in the safety of the route.

Recent reports from US Central Command said military forces had already “eliminated” several suspected minelaying vessels near the strait amid fears that Iran may be attempting to deploy sea mines in the region. Iran is believed to possess thousands of naval mines.

Energy analysts say that if shipments from Qatar are delayed, global LNG prices could remain high, potentially feeding through to higher energy costs across Europe.

For communities around Milford Haven—home to both South Hook LNG and the nearby Dragon LNG terminal—the developments underline how international conflicts can quickly affect Wales’ role in the global energy system.