British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the urgent importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

According to officials in London, the two leaders spoke about the growing disruption to global trade caused by the effective closure of the strait and agreed to remain in close contact as international efforts continue to restore safe passage through the waterway.

The channel is a vital maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with global markets and normally carries a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

The conversation comes as the war involving Iran and a coalition led by the United States and Israel has intensified, prompting widespread concern over energy supplies and shipping security.

Military activity and threats against vessels in the area have sharply reduced maritime traffic, leaving large numbers of tankers waiting outside the strait and pushing oil prices above one hundred dollars a barrel.

President Trump has urged allied nations to support efforts to secure the route and protect commercial shipping, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining open sea lanes for global economic stability.

Discussions among Western and Asian partners are focusing on potential naval cooperation and defensive escort missions designed to safeguard tanker traffic until the security situation improves.

During the call, Starmer also conveyed condolences for American service personnel who have been killed since the start of the conflict, reflecting the growing human and geopolitical toll of the war.

The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the most consequential economic flashpoints of the conflict.

Roughly one fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major shock to international energy markets and global supply chains.

The leaders’ discussion forms part of a broader round of diplomatic contacts among Western governments seeking to coordinate responses to the conflict and limit its impact on global commerce.

British officials said Starmer has also spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the wider economic implications of the strait’s continued closure.

With energy prices rising and maritime insurance costs surging, reopening the strait safely has become a priority for governments and shipping companies alike as they attempt to prevent further economic disruption while the conflict continues.