Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister of State for Europe and North America, has said that while his country is not in favour of the US blockade of Iranian ports, it supports working with the United States and others to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking ahead of a UN Security Council meeting, Doughty has said in comments carried by The Associated Press that Iran is holding “the rest of the world to ransom”.

Maritime traffic must flow safely and unimpeded through the strait, he said, “and that includes no tolls, no security risk and, of course, adherence to the international laws on freedom of navigation”.