Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said India, the United States and Britain should work together to end the ongoing conflict involving Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Johnson argued that coordinated diplomacy — rather than military escalation — is the only viable path to stabilising the region.
Johnson described the US war against Iran as a “mistake”, insisting that Washington had acted without consulting the UK or other allies and had “walked into an obvious trap.” He urged New Delhi to play a more active role, saying India could help broker a settlement and also pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine. According to Johnson, Russian President Vladimir Putin is “fated to lose” the conflict, and believing regime change in Iran could be achieved through air strikes was “totally deranged.”
He stressed that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons or sponsoring terrorism, but said meaningful change in the country must come from within, not through external force. “We’ve got to find a deal with Iran,” he said, adding that countries must work together to lower oil prices and ensure shipping flows from the region remain uninterrupted.
Johnson also criticised Washington’s unilateral approach, but clarified that he still prefers US hegemony over China, urging allies to help the US “back out of the cul‑de‑sac” created by its current strategy.