UK Prime Minister has warned Iran it should not retaliate following Israel’s attack on the country and has urged both nations to avoid a regional escalation and to show restraint
Keir Starmer holds press conference in Samoa
Keir Starmer has said Iran “should not respond” to overnight Israeli strikes on military targets.
The Prime Minister urged all sides to show restraint amid fears of dramatic escalation in the region. Speaking at a press conference in Samoa, he said: “This is a live situation. We are obviously monitoring it closely alongside our allies.
“I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I’m equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint.
“Iran should not respond. We will continue to work with allies to deescalate the situation across the region.”
Asked if Israel’s response was proportionate, Mr Starmer said: “We need to be really clear that Israel has the right to defend itself. We are urging and have been urging all sides to show restraint.”
He said Britain had been pushing for de-escalation in the region but diplomatic solutions would take time. The Prime Minister’s comments come after Israel launched its long-awaited retaliation for earlier strikes against the Jewish-majority state by Iran.
The attacks did not target nuclear or oil facilities, according to Israeli officials. A UK Government spokesperson said earlier this morning: “We are monitoring this situation closely.”
The Number 10 spokesman added the Government supports “Israel’s right to self-defence and to protect itself in line”, so long as it adheres to “international humanitarian law.” And he pointed out: “Further escalation is in no one’s interest.”
Israeli officials confirmed it carried out a wave of airstrikes that said its aircraft “struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year.”
The attack risks raising the temperature of the regional conflict and could push both countries closer toward an all-out war. n a pre-recorded video statement shared on social media early on Saturday morning, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 … including direct attacks from Iranian soil.
“Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”
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