The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran — which has now entered a two-week ceasefire — has seen the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that has led to a sharp increase in oil prices. Starmer has tried to position Britain at the center of a coalition of countries helping to reopen the Strait, but broke with Trump in the early days of the war by refusing U.S. permission to use British bases for offensive strikes. Trump has hurled insults Starmer’s way ever since.
In the same interview, Starmer refused to be drawn on Trump’s threat, ahead of the ceasefire, that if Iran did not reopen the Strait “a whole civilization will die.” The British prime minister said only that it was “not language I would use,” and said he would be “guided by” British values “in everything that we do.”
Starmer also ratcheted up his criticism of Israel, which has continued deadly strikes inside Lebanon, angering Iran — as well as some European countries — for pushing on beyond the ceasefire. Asked whether Israeli strikes represented a breach of the ceasefire, the prime minister said: “It’s hard to say that there is a breach when we haven’t all got access to all the details of the ceasefire.
“But let me be really clear about it. They’re wrong. That shouldn’t be happening. That should stop.”
Starmer added: “The question isn’t a technical one of whether it’s a breach of the agreement or not. The question is actually a matter of principles.”