Keir Starmer holds phone call with Donald Trump after President urges UK to send warships to Iran

This comes after the US President called on the UK to send naval power to the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to secure the critical sea passage.

Sir Keir also spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, discussing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a Downing Street spokesman has confirmed.

This is the first conversation between Sir Keir and Mr Trump since the US urged Britain to send warships to protect the critical shipping lane.

Iran's hostile approach to oil tankers travelling through the narrow passage has pushed up global energy prices and sparked concerns across the globe about wider disruptions to international shipping

The impact is being felt at home in the UK, where ministers are considering measures to ease the pressure on households facing rising energy costs.

Mr Trump appealed to allies on Saturday, including the UK, to secure and protect the waterway by establishing a united naval presence in the region.

He wrote on Truth Social: "Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.

"We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.

"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated."

This appeal from the US President came after six ships were attacked in the Gulf in under 48 hours this week.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the two leaders spoke on Sunday about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the priority to reopen the shipping route.

The Prime Minister also gave his condolences for the American service personnel who lost their lives in the conflict, the spokeswoman added.

In a separate call, Sir Keir and Mr Carney also agreed on the need to end Iran's unilateral blockade and restore shipping through the strait.

The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said the Government was “intensively” examining what steps Britain could take to help reopen the waterway.

He told Sky News that a range of options were being considered as ministers assessed how the UK might contribute to efforts to secure the passage.

One possibility under discussion is the deployment of minehunting drones to detect and clear explosives that may have been placed in the shipping lane.

The drones could be operated by the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, which is already stationed in the Middle East.

There are growing fears that Iran may have begun laying naval mines in the strait as part of its efforts to block commercial vessels from passing through.

Several oil tankers have reportedly come under attack while attempting to travel through the corridor since the conflict escalated.

Mr Miliband also indicated that British minesweeping vessels could be deployed if necessary to help clear the route.

However, the Royal Navy’s last minesweeper operating in the Middle East recently returned to the UK for maintenance.