Keir Starmer warns Iranian PM to ‘refrain from attacking Israel’

The Prime Minister tonight urged the Iranian president to refrain from attacking Israel , amid warnings from the US that the country could launch a significant attack on Israel within days. Speaking to Masoud Pezeshkian, Sir Keir Starmer warned of ‘a serious risk of miscalculation’, Downing Street said.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: ‘(The Prime Minister) called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests.’ Mr Pezeshkian (pictured), who has been in office for barely a month, is considered a reformist, but vowed to make Israel ‘regret’ an air strike on Tehran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The Number 10 spokeswoman added: ‘The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations to achieve those outcomes. The Prime Minister also raised the cases of foreign detainees in Iran, adding that it was vital that they received the necessary medical care. The leaders agreed that a constructive dialogue between the UK and Iran was in both countries’ interests. The Prime Minister added that could only be furthered if Iran ceased its destabilising actions including threats against individuals in the UK and did not further aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’

The spokesman added: ‘The Prime Minister called on all parties to de-escalate. There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration. He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests.’

The phone call came as Washington confirmed that it has increased its military presence in the region to help Israel defend itself. On Monday night, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also took part in a joint call about the looming threat with his US, French, German and Italian counterparts, who called on Iran to ‘stand down’.

The leaders fear an attack from Iran and by terrorists based in Lebanon could spark a full-blown war and scupper chances of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza. In a joint statement the leaders said: ‘We expressed our support for the defence of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups. ‘We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.’

Regarding Gaza, they added: ‘We endorsed the joint call from [US] President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week, and stressed there is no further time to lose.’ The leaders of Qatar, Egypt and the US have been trying to broker a peace deal between terror group Hamas and Israel to end the fighting in Gaza.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told US defence secretary Lloyd Austin during a phone call on Sunday that Tehran was plotting a ‘large scale’ military attack. White House spokesman John Kirby last night confirmed that the US agreed with the assessment. ‘We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week,’ he said. ‘We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.’

He confirmed that the US defence department has ordered guided missile submarine Georgia to the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, equipped with F-35 fighters, has also been told to sail quickly to the area. In April, Israel’s allies, including the UK, helped to intercept a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles Iran fired at Israel in a failed attack.

Tensions have been stoked by the assassination by Israel of Ismail Haniyeh – Hamas’s political leader – as well as Fuad Shukr, a senior commander in Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on Beirut last month. Hezbollah fighters, based in Lebanon have been firing rockets over the border. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza conflict is thought to be approaching 40,000. It was sparked by Hamas terrorists bursting into Israel from Gaza on October 7 last year and murdering 1,200.

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