US Allies Weigh Iran Outreach and Sanctions to Open Hormuz

WATCH: Starmer says the UK will continue to push for a solution in the Strait of Hormuz while also pledging deeper European ties.Source: Bloomberg

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By Alex Wickham, Joe Mayes, and Ellen Milligan

April 1, 2026 at 10:37 AM UTC

Updated on

April 1, 2026 at 7:36 PM UTC

A coalition of US allies is preparing a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and weighing potential sanctions on Tehran if the waterway remains closed.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair a virtual meeting on Thursday with counterparts from some 35 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates to discuss a plan to restore freedom of navigation in the strait. The US is not due to attend.