Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with Gulf leaders, hours after the United States and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire. The truce, announced on Tuesday evening, cancelled a self-imposed deadline by US President Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.
Speaking on Wednesday, Starmer welcomed the ceasefire as a moment of relief for the region and the world. He said: “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 confirmed the prime minister would discuss diplomatic efforts to uphold the ceasefire and protect the UK and global economy.
The visit, planned before the ceasefire was announced, comes as Starmer faces pressure to limit US access to British airbases. Trump had warned that a “whole civilisation will die” if Tehran did not comply. 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 for implementation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, which was hit by Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday.
Signatories to the statement included France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and EU leaders. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging a swift end to the conflict and backing negotiations. Cooper also chaired a UK-led meeting of over 40 countries in London last week to discuss measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas route closed since US-Israel attacks began.
Despite the provisional ceasefire, attacks continued, with Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Israel reporting missile and drone strikes. Oil prices plunged while stocks soared after the announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the US decision to suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks, but stressed the ceasefire did not include fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country led last-minute diplomatic intervention, had previously said the ceasefire extended to Lebanon.
