Winston Peters says New Zealand ‘asking questions’ about US proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters speaks to media about the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Whenuapai. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is reviewing an initial proposal from the United States for New Zealand’s involvement in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Peters said Cabinet was far from making a decision on the matter, and any involvement would be contingent on a sustainable ceasefire.

Around a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the strait, which has been essentially closed since the US and Israel attack on Iran.

Peters confirmed New Zealand officials were having “ongoing discussions” with a range of partner countries about how to restore safe passage through the strait.

Officials had received the details of a US proposal and were in the “process of asking questions and seeking more information about this preliminary proposal.”

“Accordingly, we are not close to a point where the New Zealand Government would be making any decisions about it.”

Peters said the strait was a vital seaway for the global economy, and it was crucial freedom of navigation was restored.

UK, France proposals

New Zealand had also been participating in meetings to understand UK and France-led plans for a potential multinational mission to reopen the strait, which was first announced in late April.

In a joint statement at the time, France and the UK said the mission would be “strictly defensive” to protect merchant vessels, reassure commercial shipping operators and conduct mine clearance operations as soon as conditions permit after a sustainable ceasefire agreement.

Peters said New Zealand’s consideration of participation in any mission related to the Strait of Hormuz would be contingent on there being a sustainable ceasefire agreement in place.

According to a report by the BBC, peace talks between Iran and the US appear to have stalled despite negotiations for a ceasefire with both nations now turning to “war of blockades” and “using force to intercept and seize commercial vessels”.

Peters said New Zealand would seek more information on all of these proposals. New Zealand’s participation would be a matter for Cabinet to consider at an appropriate time.

“Engaging with partners in this context supports New Zealand’s understanding of developments and informs any future advice to ministers on a potential future contribution to a multinational coalition.”

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Act leader David Seymour confirmed the US embassy in New Zealand had been asked by the Trump administration to press the New Zealand Government to join a new US-led alliance focused on re-opening the strait.

“It has been a very brief discussion, literally a couple of minutes at the end of a meeting,” he told Ryan Bridge TODAY.

Any serious discussion at Cabinet was “still a way off, if it happens at all”.

“It is in New Zealand’s interests that we have freedom of navigation. We are an island nation that depends on trade, so the seas and navigation of the seas are pretty important to us.

“The question is not do we want trade and freedom of navigation of the seas, of course we do. The question for New Zealand is going to be how best to achieve that in this rather disturbed context.”

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.