UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to join a U.S.-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, opting instead to avoid deploying warships in the operation.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade after failed nuclear negotiations with Iran and said allied countries would support the effort.

The UK government said it would focus on mine-clearing and protecting navigation rather than enforcing the blockade itself.

The U.S. move is aimed at limiting Iran’s leverage over the key oil route, but it has raised concerns about global energy prices, The Telegraph has reported.

The decision highlights divisions among Western allies over how directly to confront Iran in the escalating conflict.