Arabic version: ستارمر يدعو إلى بذل جهود للحفاظ على وقف إطلاق النار بين الولايات المتحدة وإيران وإعادة فتح مضيق هرمز

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the need for significant efforts to ensure that the newly established two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States remains intact. He made these remarks during his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he also discussed diplomatic strategies to support the ceasefire and the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz.

According to BBC News, Starmer noted that fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz is essential for stabilizing oil and gas prices in the UK. Despite a sense of relief following the ceasefire announcement, he acknowledged that it is still early days and much work remains.

The ceasefire was prompted by US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran, which included warnings of severe consequences if the conflict continued. While Iranian media reported a halt in oil tanker traffic through the strait, Israel claimed it had conducted significant strikes in Lebanon, complicating the ceasefire dynamics.

Starmer addressed UK and Saudi military personnel at the King Fahd Air Base, stating, “There’s a lot of work to do, as you will appreciate, a lot of work to make sure that that ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see.” He also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah before his return to the UK.

Responses from UK political leaders varied, with shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly considering the ceasefire an opportunity for Iran to reassess its actions, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey expressed skepticism about trusting the US as an ally. The ongoing conflict has already led to significant increases in oil prices, raising concerns about global inflation and economic growth.