Starmer travels to Saudi Arabia to ‘support ceasefire’
UK must ‘do all we can’ to re-open Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister says
Sir Keir Starmer with British troops at King Fahd Airbase in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday Credit: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia to visit Gulf allies and push for a long-term resolution to the Iran war.
The Prime Minister said the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, announced by Donald Trump overnight, would bring “a moment of relief to the world”.
Mr Trump announced the two-week pause shortly before the deadline he had given the Islamic Republic to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the death of a “whole civilisation”.
Speaking in Saudi Arabia, Sir Keir said Britain had played a key role in “convening a number of countries” to co-ordinate further action to get the Strait of Hormuz open.
He added that there was still “work to do” to ensure that the temporary ceasefire agreed overnight became a permanent one.
Sir Keir refused to say whether his relationship with the US president was ruined and defended the UK not getting further involved in the conflict.
Asked by broadcasters whether he believed his relationship with Mr Trump was “in tatters”, he said: “I’ve acted as you would expect of a British Prime Minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and that’s why I’ve applied my principles and my values throughout.
“And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.”
Downing Street said Sir Keir would use the visit to make clear the UK’s commitment to de-escalation and hold further talks on “practical efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz”.
The Prime Minister will hold talks with Gulf leaders including Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, on how best to support the pause in fighting and ensure passage is permanently restored through the key oil and gas shipping route.
Sir Keir, whose relationship with Mr Trump has soured since the start of US strikes in Iran, said the UK “must do all we can” to sustain the ceasefire.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, welcomed the ceasefire on Tuesday, but called for “an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon”.
Israel has agreed to halt strikes on Iran, but said the ceasefire did not extend to its operations in Lebanon.
Mr Trump’s announcement was made 90 minutes before his deadline to reopen the crucial shipping channel, which expired at 8pm EST (1am BST).
Earlier on Tuesday, the US president pledged: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
The UK, Canada, Pakistan and the Pope were among those calling for de-escalation. The ceasefire deal was brokered by Pakistan.
On Wednesday morning, Sir Keir wrote on X: “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 re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”
Announcing the Prime Minister’s visit on Wednesday morning, Sarah Jones, the crime and policing minister, told Sky News the UK was “not playing a role in peace negotiations” between the US and Iran.
She said: “Our role is working with our allies, sticking to the principles of what our principles have been throughout this, which is we are not doing any offensive action here. We are very much there, playing a defensive role, but an important one.”
Mr Trump, who hailed the “golden age of the Middle East” on Wednesday morning, has rebuked Sir Keir several times since the start of the war with Iran.
When asked on Monday whether Britain could “resurrect” its relationship with the US, the president said that “they have a long way to go”. He compared the Prime Minister to Neville Chamberlain, whose policy of appeasing Nazi Germany in the 1930s failed to prevent the Second World War.
Sir James Cleverly, a former Conservative foreign secretary, said on Wednesday that Mr Trump “does not respect Keir Starmer”. He said the UK-US relationship had been “damaged” as a result of the crisis and Sir Keir’s indecisiveness.
Sir James added: “It’s quite clear now that President Trump does not respect Keir Starmer at all. I mean, Keir Starmer was sycophantic initially, waving around that offer of a state visit almost immediately. He did not show strength.”
Ms Jones told Times Radio that the Prime Minister would travel to the Gulf “to see for himself the defensive action that we are taking in that region, and also to play his role in terms of making sure the Strait is opened up”.
The Prime Minister is visiting British troops in the region to thank them for their service.
Tehran’s blockage of the strait in early March sent global fuel prices soaring, with around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas usually passing through the shipping route.
Oil prices have fallen sharply since the ceasefire announcement, with Brent crude dropping below $100 a barrel.
Tehran agreed to halt its blockade in return for a temporary end to US strikes on Iranian infrastructure and power plants.
In the “double-sided” agreement, Iran issued a 10-point plan that included the release of Iranian funds and frozen assets held by the US, a “full payment of compensation for reconstruction costs” and “full commitment” to lifting sanctions and the complete cessation of war in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
In the “double-sided” agreement, Iran issued a 10-point plan that included the release of Iranian funds and frozen assets held by the US, a “full payment of compensation for reconstruction costs” and “full commitment” to lifting sanctions and the complete cessation of war in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
