Keir Starmer arrives in Gulf after US and Iran agree two-week ceasefire
PM to meet regional leaders to discuss effort to ‘support and sustain ceasefire’ and reopening the strait of Hormuz
Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet leaders in the Gulf region to discuss diplomatic efforts to support the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran.
The UK prime minister’s visit on Wednesday comes hours after a two-week ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday evening, cancelling a self-imposed deadline by the US president, Donald Trump, for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.
Starmer said on Wednesday: “I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.
“Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the strait of Hormuz.”
Downing Street said the prime minister would discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire to bring a “lasting resolution” to the conflict, and protect the UK and global economy.
Starmer’s visit, planned before the ceasefire was announced, comes as he faces mounting pressure to limit US access to British airbases, after Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die” if Tehran did not comply with his demands and allow commercial shipping to pass through the strait of Hormuz.
A joint statement from world leaders, including the UK, said they would “contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz” and called on all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, which Israel hit with a barrage of airstrikes on Wednesday.
“We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement,” they said. “This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region.”
Signatories to the statement welcoming the ceasefire included France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. Starmer is also expected to thank armed forces from the UK and allied countries who are posted in the region.
Trump’s comments were criticised by legal experts, as well as officials from a number of countries and the pope, warning they could constitute war crimes, but they were not directly criticised by Downing Street.
The British foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, is reported to have spoken with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, after Trump’s remarks and is said to have urged a swift end to the conflict, while giving the UK’s backing to negotiations and efforts to prevent further escalation.
Cooper and Rubio also discussed international efforts and diplomatic measures to open the strait of Hormuz, including a UK-led meeting chaired by Cooper that brought together more than 40 countries to pursue reopening.
The coalition of countries met in London last week to discuss possible economic and diplomatic measures to press Iran into opening the strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil and gas shipping route closed since US-Israel attacks began.
Despite the provisional ceasefire, attacks continued after the deal, as countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Israel reported missile and drone strikes. By Wednesday morning, oil prices had plunged while stocks had soared after the ceasefire announcement.
Conflicting statements emerged as Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he supported the US decision to suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks, but said the ceasefire did not include fighting against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shebaz Sharif, had previously said the ceasefire extended to Lebanon. Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran and whose army chief enjoys a close relationship with Trump, led the last-minute diplomatic intervention on Tuesday.