Keir Starmer geese Donald Trump query as he delivers Iran ceasefire verdict
Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Saudi Arabia today for talks with Gulf allies after Donald Trump walked back from his apocalyptic threats and agreed to a ceasefire with Iran
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets aircrew members at Taif Airbase, Saudi Arabia(Image: AP)
Keir Starmer said there was “work to do” to get the Iran-US ceasefire to hold – as he dodged questions over whether his relationship with Donald Trump is in tatters.
The Prime Minister arrived in Saudi Arabia today for talks with Gulf allies after Donald Trump walked back from his apocalyptic threats and agreed to a two-week ceasefire hours before his deadline for Iran to make a deal expired.
The US President had threatened “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane which had been blockaded by Tehran. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to bombard Lebanon where it is battling Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group.
On a visit to an air base in Saudi Arabia, Mr Starmer said there was a “sense of real relief” at the ceasefire. But he said a lot of work still needed to be done to make the peace deal last – and to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
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Asked whether his relationship with the US President was “in tatters,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters: “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. That was the right position for the United Kingdom, and of course, that has included us taking action, collective self-defence.
“I’m here to say thank you to some of those have been defending our allies and British interests in the region, but the principles of not getting dragged into this war, principles of always saying the UK will act only on a lawful basis and only for the viable, long term plan. They’re the right principles. As I say, I’m the British Prime Minister.
“I act in the British national interest, but nothing, but nothing, is going to deflect me from that.”
