More than 40 countries participated in the meeting on May 11 to determine military contributions to a European-led mission to escort ships across the Strait of Hormuz, after a stable ceasefire was achieved.
The countries are expected to provide mine clearance, ship escort and air patrol capabilities within the framework of the defensive naval mission led by Britain and France, in order to reassure commercial ships seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
We are turning diplomatic agreements into realistic military plans to restore confidence in sea transport operations across the Strait of Hormuz," said British Defense Secretary John Healey. He co-chaired the meeting on May 11 with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.
In response, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared that any such plan would be seen as an escalation of the US-Israel conflict with Iran and would face military response.
The deployment and deployment of more destroyers from outside the area around the Strait of Hormuz, under the guise of "protecting maritime operations" is no different from escalating the crisis, militarizing a vital waterway route and covering up the real cause of insecurity in the region" - Mr. Kazem Gharibabadi shared. The Iranian diplomat emphasized that Tehran's response will be "decisive and immediate".
Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict broke out on February 28. The US has also imposed naval blockade in this strait.
Recently, Britain announced that it would deploy the HMS Dragon warship to participate in the mission in Hormuz. However, this operation will only begin when a sustainable ceasefire or peace agreement is reached.
