Britain, which received a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, said on the 15th (local time) that it is reviewing all options.
Minister Ed Miliband of Energy Security appeared on BBC that day and, stressing the importance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, said, "There are various ways we can contribute, including mine-detecting drones."
However, Miliband declined to give detailed explanations of what options the government is reviewing.
In a post on Truth Social the previous day, President Trump wrote that he hoped China, France, Japan, Korea, Britain, and other countries would send vessels there.
Asked whether Britain is also considering deploying drones or ships, Minister Miliband said, "You can take it that we are reviewing, with our allies, any option that could help reopen the strait."
He added, "The best and surest way to reopen the strait is to end the war."
A Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson also answered a query from The Times about President Trump's remarks by saying, "We are currently discussing a range of options with allies and partners to ensure the safety of shipping in the region."
Earlier, The Times reported that Britain is reviewing a plan to deploy mine-detecting drones and thousands of interception drones to the Strait of Hormuz and the region. British military leaders are said to be discussing options for what could be done if a decision is made to deploy additional assets to the Gulf waters.
Currently, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has been dispatched to bolster the defense of the British base in Cyprus.
Trump's remarks have also sparked debate in British politics. Claire Coutinho, the Conservative Party's shadow Energy Security Minister, told the BBC that Britain should consider sending warships or drones to the Middle East if it serves the national interest. She also argued that if it were a Conservative government, it would have allowed the United States to use British bases faster than the Labor Party government.
However, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest party, argued that Britain should not send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, saying it should focus on de-escalation. He said, "America's war against Iran is 'reckless and illegal,'" and added, "Britain must not be pushed around into doing what it's told."