U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband met on Monday to discuss maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting also addressed coordination over Iran’s actions and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the two ministers had reiterated their joint commitment to ensuring the security of passages through the Strait of Hormuz. Pigott also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to hold Iran accountable for its actions and ensure the safety of U.S. assets in the UK.
RAF Fairford allegation
The meeting between Rubio and Miliband came after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke about an alleged plan targeting RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Burnham said it was “almost certain” that the alleged plan targeting RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base used by the U.S. Air Force, had been directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian government responded by denying the allegation.
Twenty-nine countries, including the United States and the UK, jointly condemned on Monday what they described as Iranian operations targeting allied territory. The countries supported the UK’s assessment of the incident involving the air base.
Energy markets and the war in Ukraine
Pointing to the strategic alliance between Washington and London, Rubio said cooperation should continue to stabilize global energy markets. The U.S. secretary also called for continued efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict through a negotiated solution.
At the time of the meeting, control of the Strait of Hormuz remained one of the main flashpoints in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Under normal circumstances, more than one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through this route.
The diplomatic contacts took place after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement allowing Russia’s diesel exports to reach the United States and global markets.
