Yvette Cooper accuses Russia and Iran of working collectively to attempt to “hijack the global economy”
The Foreign Secretary’s broadside comes amid Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen oil prices jump to around $100 per barrel
Yvette Cooper claims Iran and Russia have joined forces(Image: PA)
Yvette Cooper has accused Russia and Iran of working together to try to “hijack the global economy”.
The Foreign Secretary’s broadside comes amid Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen oil prices jump to around $100 per barrel, threatening higher global inflation.
She said: “We have seen these links between Russia and Iran over an extended period of time.
“We’re seeing it in terms of technology, we see it in terms of the approach, we see it in terms of these kinds of tactics.
“And we see it in terms of the way these two states try to support each other and try to benefit together from attempting to hijack the global economy.”
She added: “We are very clear about the threat from both Russia and from Iran to the global economy and to all of our wellbeing.”
But Ms Cooper declined to criticise the easing of US sanctions on some Russian oil in the face of rising prices, saying it was a “specific, targeted issue”.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced it would provide temporary authorisation for countries to buy Russian oil already loaded on vessels at sea.
“This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government,” he said on X.
But Downing Street warned allies must maintain pressure on the Kremlin’s war chest.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said Britain remained committed to bringing “maximum” financial strain on Moscow.
He said that the “best way” to stop the country from supporting hostile actors was through collective efforts to end the Ukraine war.
Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani taunted US president Donald Trump in a live interview in Tehran as Israeli airstrikes rained down on the Iranian capital.
He joined thousands of demonstrators at a Quds Day rally in the city despite Israel launching fresh attacks.
Larijani said Israeli attacks during the demonstrations show Israel’s weakness and confusion.
He said: “These attacks are out of fear, out of desperation. One who is strong wouldn’t bomb demonstrations at all. It’s clear that it has failed.”
And Larijani said Trump “doesn’t understand that the Iranian people are a brave nation, a strong nation, a determined nation”.
“The more he presses, the stronger the nation’s determination will become,” he added.
But the Orange Manbaby has issued a new warning to Iran on Truth Social, saying his military has “unparalleled power”.
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