Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is essential to bringing down the cost of living in the UK, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said as he met his US counterpart Marco Rubio. The pair were expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Miliband was invited to the US capital by Rubio after they met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in the Philippines, where the former Labour leader made his debut as foreign secretary. "They reiterated their shared commitment to safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon." In a statement after the meeting, Miliband thanked Rubio for a "warm, productive meeting" and said he was "hopeful" that the Strait may be re-opened.