The UK is looking at “any options” including working with the U.S. and allies to secure key oil shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband has said.

It comes after U.S. President, Donald Trump at the weekend threatened to open the channel one way or another and urged countries including the UK, China, and France to send warships to the waterway.

The Energy Secretary told the BBC it was very important that the strait be made safe for shipping, but refused to give details of options being considered by the government.

Iran’s effective blockage of the strait, one of the world’s most important shipping channels, has had a catastrophic impact on global supply chains and energy prices.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khameini has vowed to keep blocking the strait as a means of political and economic pressure against the U.S. About 20 per cent of the world’s oil usually passes through the strait.

As the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran enters its third week, a number of ships are said to have been attacked as they attempted to navigate the narrow strait. There are also concerns that Iran has placed mines in the passage as part of its attempts to hinder shipping.

Speaking on BBC, Miliband said it was a priority for the strait to be reopened and that there were different ways we can contribute, including with mine-hunting drones.

Pressed on whether the UK was considering sending drones or ships to the region, Miliband responded: “You can rest assured that any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at in concert with our allies.”

Refusing to be drawn into any operational details, Miliband reiterated that ending the conflict is the best and surest way to get the strait reopened.

Speaking later, shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho said the UK should explore sending ships or drones to the Middle East if it were in the national interest.

She said it was in the UK’s interests to re-open international shipping lanes and protect military assets abroad, and added that the Conservative party would have allowed its U.S. allies to use UK military bases more quickly than Labour did.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey argued the UK should not send ships to help secure the strait, and instead focus on de-escalating the war.

Hitting out at Trump as very reckless in this illegal and damaging war, Sir Ed said Britain should not be at the beck and call of an American president who does not seem to know what he is doing.

In 2025, about 20 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz per day, according to estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly $600bn (£447bn) worth of energy trade per year.