London, April 11 (NationPress) The United Kingdom is set to engage in discussions with its allies next week regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for shipping, aiming to do so without paying tolls to Iran.

Officials from the British foreign ministry are scheduled to meet next week with representatives from countries that participated in a virtual meeting on April 2, which was led by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, to address the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The upcoming discussions will focus on coordinated economic and political strategies, which may include potential sanctions, as well as efforts to release ships and sailors currently stranded in the strait, according to statements from officials.

Over 40 nations, along with international bodies such as the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, were present at the April 2 meeting to deliberate on possible collective actions against Iran, incorporating diplomatic pressure and economic measures like sanctions, as reported by Xinhua.

According to a source familiar with the preparations, next week’s meeting aims to identify sustainable solutions to conclude the ongoing conflict while enhancing international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait.

Efforts will also include examining coordinated economic and political actions, such as sanctions, and collaborating with the International Maritime Organization to facilitate the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the strait.

This will mark the third meeting hosted by the UK on this matter within the month. The specific date for next week’s meeting remains undecided.

Meanwhile, the United States and Iran entered into a two-week ceasefire starting Tuesday.

As the situation unfolds, both nations are preparing for critical ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad, amidst significant mistrust and conflicting demands, as reported by major American media outlets.

The Washington Post highlighted that both parties seem to have minimal common ground beyond their mutual need to find a way out of the ongoing war.

In the lead-up to the talks, both nations have accused one another of insincerity. US President Donald Trump referred to Iran’s overtures as “a hoax” and criticized Tehran for being “dishonourable” in its restrictions on tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Washington Post.

Iran, on the other hand, has set strict preconditions for negotiations. As reported by The Washington Post and The New York Times, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that issues like the release of “blocked assets” need to be settled prior to starting discussions.