Keir Starmer has “urged both sides to find a way through” after US-Iran peace talks broke down this morning
Keir Starmer has “urged both sides to find a way through” after US-Iran peace talks broke down this morning.
In a phone call this morning, the PM and the Sultan of Oman agreed the US, Israel and Iran should avoid “any further escalation”. They said it “was vital there was a continuation of the ceasefire”.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said, this morning. They discussed the peace talks held in Pakistan over the weekend and urged both sides to find a way through. It was vital there was a continuation of the ceasefire, and that all parties avoided any further escalation, the leaders agreed.
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“His majesty updated on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Prime Minister thanked him for Oman’s efforts to rescue sailors from vessels in distress in the region. Reflecting on international efforts to co-ordinate safe passage for shipping in the region, the Prime Minister said that following meetings convened by the Foreign Secretary and British military planners, partners continued to work towards restoring freedom of navigation for the long term.
“The Prime Minister also reiterated the UK’s commitment to ensuring Oman’s security and updated on the UK’s work with Ukraine on drone technology.
“It was clear Ukraine’s expertise had been vital to the region in recent weeks, while Russia appeared to continue to support Iran’s aggression, the Prime Minister added. The leaders agreed to speak again soon.”
The PM has been leading European efforts to try to re-open the Tehran-blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that transports around a fifth of the world’s oil.
A US-Iran ceasefire attempting to reopen the Strait has faced cracks since being agreed earlier this week. Gas prices have risen sharply during the ongoing closure of the Strait.
Britain will host further talks on reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane with a coalition of countries next week. The meeting will continue the Government’s efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait.
US vice president JD Vance is in Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, although a 21-hour session ended without a deal being reached in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was “disappointing” there had not been a breakthrough in talks in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. On Sunday morning, he told Sky News: “It’s obviously disappointing that we haven’t yet seen a breakthrough in negotiations and an end to this war in Iran. That is a sustainable one. But as ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed.
“So while these talks may not have ended in success, that doesn’t mean there isn’t merit in continuing to try. And clearly, when you look at the impact of the war in Iran on this country, on other countries around the world who have no part in this war, it is in all of our interests for there to be a breakthrough and an end to this war.”
