Preparations are underway for a multinational mission led by Britain, which includes the deployment of a warship, Typhoon jets, and mine-hunting equipment to the Middle East.
The UK, alongside France, has set out to reopen the Strait of Hormuzand has gained the support of dozens of allies to do so once conditions allow for it.
But, retired brigadier and military analyst Ben Barry said Iran will pose a threat to the UK regardless of whether fighting in the region has paused.
“No one pretends this is risk-free,” he told The Independent. “If an international mission is to do this, it needs to have sufficient firepower so it can not only protect the civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but it can impose disproportionate costs on any Iranian military capabilities that might try to attack them.”
It comes after Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi issued a stern warning to the UK and France over the weekend, stating that any warship in the Strait of Hormuz “will be met with a decisive and immediate response”.
The multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz was announced by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron last month after the two leaders convened 51 countries for an international summit.
It aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and conduct mine-clearing operations, while protecting merchant vessels and commercial shipping operators.
The Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that it was deploying mine-hunting equipment, cutting-edge counter-drone systems, Typhoon jets and the HMS Dragon, which is already on its way to the region.
In March, Iran imposed a blockade on the waterway, which carries more than a fifth of the world’s oil, as a result of attacks from the US and Israel.
The closure of the waterway has sent energy prices soaring and caused severe disruption to supply chains.
Despite a month-old ceasefire between the US and Iran, both nations have accused each other of strikes on vessels in the waterway.
The mission to reopen the strait will take place only when hostilities end, Sir Keir has said.
Alongside his French counterpart, John Healey co-chaired a meeting on Monday of more than 40 nations for the multinational mission’s first defence ministers’ meeting.
Countries including Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Iraq have participated in discussions.
