British FM says Iran holding global economy ‘hostage’ with Strait of Hormuz blockade

By AFP 27 March 2026, 11:53 am

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From Left: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, France's Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose for a family picture during a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey in Cernay-la-Ville outside Paris, France, March 27, 2026. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)

CERNAY-LA-VILLE, France — The UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urges a “swift resolution” to the Middle East war, accusing Iran of holding the global economy hostage by blocking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are very clear we need to see a swift resolution to this conflict that restores regional stability,” Cooper says ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Referring to the refusal of Iran to allow vessels through the key Strait of Hormuz, she adds: “Frankly, Iran cannot be able to just hold the global economy hostage as a result of a Strait which is about international shipping routes and the freedom of navigation.”