World leaders are gathering in Canada for the G7 summit which will be dominated by the escalating crisis in the Middle East as Iran and Israel renewed attacks against eachother
World leaders will hold crisis talks today on preventing a full-scale war between Iran and Israel.
Keir Starmer will join allies in calling for both sides to pull back from the brink as he attends the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Yesterday, the Prime Minister met Canadian leader Mark Carney in Ottawa where they discussed the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East.
It comes after Donald Trump warned Tehran’s regime that the US would “come down on you at levels never seen before” if it comes under attack.
But he said a deal could be done between Iran and Israel to “end this bloody conflict”.
A No10 spokesman said Mr Starmer will use the summit to “work with international partners to encourage de-escalation” in the region.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer says UK fighter jets to be scrambled to Middle East amid WW3 fears
“That is the priority – to reach long-term security and peace in the Middle East. That will be his overarching priority going into those talks,” they added.
“Our priority is stability in the Middle East, we are concerned by further escalation which is in no one’s interests and we are working closely with allies for a return to diplomacy.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely rejected calls to pull back and said Europe “owes a huge thank you” to Israel for strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said sending more RAF jets to the region “does not mean we are at war”.
She said: “We have not been involved in these strikes or this conflict, but we do have important assets in the region and it is right that we send jets to protect them and that’s what we’ve done. It’s a precautionary move.”
She indicated that the UK could potentially support Israel in the future but the decision to send jets was largely to protect British bases in the region. “We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in,” she said.
“I’m not going to comment on what might happen in the future, but so far, we haven’t been involved, and we’re sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.”
The Chancellor also vowed to shield Brits from rising prices triggered by the conflict. Global oil and gas prices have risen by 10%, which can push up fuel prices and drive up inflation.
Concerns are mounting over whether the Strait of Hormuz could be closed – a waterway between Iran and the Arabian peninsula which is vital for global energy supplies.
Ms Reeves said: “Over the course of this week, oil and gas prices have gone up by just over 10%. They are still down compared to a few months ago but of course we are keeping an eye on that.
“At the same time, trade routes are very important through the Middle East. We’ve seen disruption there in the past, partly because of the Houthi attacks for example, and so that is of course a concern.”
In an interview with the BBC, Ms Reeves said she won’t take “anything off the table” on supporting Brits if energy bills rocket.
But she said “we’re not anywhere near that stage” when asked if the Government could step in to help people pay their bills after the Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered a spike in oil prices in 2022.
Asked whether the PM was concerned the conflict could push up prices at home, a No10 spokesman added: “We know that these global events have an impact at home, be that through supply chain disruption or changes in energy prices.
“Clearly we continue to work with partners to urge de-escalation and that’s why stability at home is more important than ever.
“It’s why this government has doubled down on fixing barriers to growth and delivering energy security to the UK.”
It came as Mr Starmer also discussed boosting trade and security ties with Mr Carney in Ottawa yesterday in the first visit by a UK leader to Canada in eight years.
Keir Starmer said that the UK’s work with Canada as two “independent, democratic sovereign countries” was “very much needed in the here and now” and “not just a reflection of the past.”
His comments put him at odds with Mr Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to annex the country.
The PM held a private dinner on Saturday evening with the Canadian leader who previously served as Bank of England governor.
Mr Carney then took the PM for a pint at a British-style pub the Royal Oak where the duo watched a hockey game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.
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