Gulf countries continue to face strikes from Tehran as the United States and Israel’s war on Iran continues to escalate, with an oil refinery now bombed by Iranian drones
Keir Starmer has condemned the “reckless” Iranian attack that set an oil refinery ablaze in Kuwait.
Gulf countries continue to face strikes from Tehran as the United States and Israel’s war on Iran continues to escalate.
In a call with Kuwait’s Crown Prince, the PM discussed deploying Britain’s air defence system, and vowed to protect Kuwaiti and British personnel.
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A Downing Street readout of the Friday conversation said: “The Prime Minister spoke to his highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah this morning. The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery. He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.
“They discussed the deployment of the UK’s rapid sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict.
“Regarding ongoing disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister and crown prince welcomed the meeting convened by the Foreign Secretary yesterday on a viable plan to reopen the Strait. They agreed to continue to work together on this and stay in close contact over the coming weeks.”
On Tuesday the Defence Secretary John Healey announced that a Rapid Sentry air defence missile system has arrived in Kuwait, to support the country’s defences against strikes from Iran. State news agency KUNA claimed the attack caused fires in a “number of operational units,” but that no employees were injured. Emergency and firefighting teams were sent with environmental experts also arriving to assess air quality after the strikes.
It comes less than 24 hours after Yvette Cooper condemned Iran’s recklessness and accused the regime of attempting to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday the Foreign Secretary held crunch talks with dozens of nations and demanded the “immediate and unconditional reopening” of the vital shipping route. The UK and its allies also discussed “sanctions to bear down on Iran” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.