The Gulf Cooperation Council countries are an important element in maintaining the ceasefire

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that the involvement of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in maintaining the ceasefire in the region is vital to its success.

Starmer explained in an interview with Sky News from Qatar, “The Gulf countries are neighbors of Iran, and if we want the ceasefire to hold, and we hope so, they must be included… They have very strong views on the Strait of Hormuz.”

He stressed that this important point was the focus of discussion during his phone call with US President Donald Trump yesterday, Thursday, which focused on a “practical plan” for safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Starmer stressed that the ceasefire agreed upon this week requires “more work,” adding that opening the Strait of Hormuz represents an essential part of the solution.

Starmer is currently on a tour of the region focusing on meeting Gulf partners and discussing “diplomatic efforts to support and strengthen the ceasefire in order to reach a lasting solution to the conflict and protect the British and global economy from any additional threats.”

In a context related to Starmer’s statements about the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said in a speech from Mansion House in London earlier that “the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened without restrictions or traffic fees.”

She stressed that “the closure of this vital waterway affects trade around the world and affects prices locally.”