PM Sir Keir Starmer has said he has warned his team that they “mustn’t fall into the false comfort that there will be a quicker end” to the Iran conflict. He was addressing the parliamentary Liaison Committee, made up of senior MPs, that he wants to see a “swift de-escalation to the war without having a plan on the basis that it could go on for some time”.
He also said the Iran conflict was “not our war” and that there had to be a “lawful basis” for any UK involvement. A few days earlier, the US president had repeatedly criticized Sir Keir for not allowing the US to use its military bases for its initial strikes on Iran. Asked about the criticism, Sir Keir said: “A lot of what is said or done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me – I have no doubt about that, understand exactly what is going on, but I’m not going to be wavering.”
“My job is to be absolutely focused on what is in the British national interest.” He was speaking shortly after Donald Trump told reporters that talks between the US and Iran had been “very strong” and there was “a very serious chance of a deal” to end hostilities. Oil prices, which had been hit by the conflict, dropped following the US president’s remarks, but Iran’s foreign ministry has denied that negotiations are taking place.
