Britain will host military planners from over 30 countries for two days of talks starting today on a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the defence ministry said according to AFP.

The ministry said the meeting would “advance detailed planning” on reopening the Strait when conditions allow, following “progress” at talks in Paris last week.

“The task today and tomorrow is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire,” Defence Minister John Healey said in a statement.

He said he was confident “real progress can be made”.