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3:50pm UK, Thursday January 05, 2012
Philip Hammond used a speech in Washington DC to warn Iran that any attempt to close the key Gulf trade route would be "unsuccessful" and could be stopped in part by the Royal Navy.
"Any attempt by Iran to do this would be illegal and unsuccessful," he said in a speech at the Atlantic Council.
"Our joint naval presence in the Arabian Gulf, something our regional partners appreciate, is key to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international trade.
"It is in all our interests that the arteries of global trade are kept free, open and running. Disruption to the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth."
Iran has threatened to block the 34-mile wide strait in retaliation for a planned EU trade embargo on Iranian oil.
It is understood that EU governments have reached agreement on a trade embargo, but are yet to say when it will be implemented.
Mr Hammond: 'It is in all our interests that the arteries of global trade are kept open'
Each day, 15.5 million barrels of oil pass through the narrow stretch of water between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Its closure would have a significant global impact. One of the UK's leading energy suppliers has warned an embargo will force up oil prices in the UK.
Volker Beckers, chief executive of npower, told Jeff Randall Live on Wednesday: "It is very important and it will have effects on oil prices."
The Royal Navy currently has a strong presence in the Arabian Gulf as part of the Combined Maritime Forces headquartered in Bahrain. British mine counter-measure vessels also operate in the area.
Mr Hammond is in Washington DC for his first meeting with his US counterpart since he took over from Liam Fox as Defence Secretary last year.
He and US defence secretary Leon Panetta held private talks at the Pentagon.
As well as discussing Iran, the two discussed the mission in Afghanistan and the combat troop withdrawal at the end of 2014.
Pakistan's continued refusal to re-open Nato supply routes into Afghanistan is also thought to have been covered.
Mr Hammond's speech repeated concerns made by his predecessor over the willingness of some Nato member nations to "meet their responsibilities".
Defence Secretary Philip HammondOur joint naval presence in the Arabian Gulf, something our regional partners appreciate, is key to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international trade.
"Libya and Afghanistan have highlighted the significant difficulties we face in ensuring that Nato continues to serve the needs of collective security," he said.
"Too many countries are failing to meet their financial responsibilities to Nato, and so failing to maintain appropriate and proportionate capabilities.
"Too many are opting out of operations or contributing but a fraction of what they should be capable of. This is a European problem, not an American one. And it is a political problem, not a military one."
British defence officials will not be drawn on where he is directing his frustration, but Germany is one member state which choses not to take part in the Libyan intervention and whose involvement in Afghanistan is severely restricted.
Mr Hammond also reflected on the financial restraints both within the Pentagon and the British Ministry of Defence.
Echoing the views of the head of the British military, General Sir David Richards, Mr Hammond said that a strong economy is key to a secure nation.
"The debt crisis should be considered the greatest strategic threat to the future security of our nations," he said.
"Without strong economies and stable public finances it is impossible to build and sustain, in the long-term, the military capability required to project power and maintain defence."
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