August 12th 2024.
The situation in the Middle East has become increasingly tense, with fears of an all-out war between Iran and Israel. In the midst of this turmoil, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has reached out to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a rare phone call. The purpose of this call, according to a statement from Downing Street, was for Starmer to urge Pezeshkian to refrain from attacking Israel.
The catalyst for Starmer’s concern was the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31st. This event has raised concerns that Iran may escalate their conflict with Israel even further. Despite being considered a reformist by Iranian standards, Pezeshkian made a statement vowing to make Israel regret their airstrike that killed Haniyeh.
Adding to the tension, Israeli forces have faced widespread condemnation for bombing a school in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of numerous Palestinian civilians, including children. In response to this, Starmer and the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement on the situation in the Middle East, calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
During his call with Pezeshkian, Starmer expressed his deep concern for the situation in the region and urged all parties to de-escalate and avoid further confrontation. He emphasized that war was not in anyone’s best interest. According to a source from Downing Street, Starmer specifically called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel.
A spokesperson from No.10 also stated that Starmer had stressed the importance of diplomatic negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and the release of all hostages, as well as the need for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also raised the issue of foreign detainees in Iran, stressing the importance of them receiving necessary medical care.
In a joint statement issued by the UK, US, France, and Germany, they called on Iran and its allies to stand down from any ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel. The leaders also agreed that a constructive dialogue between the UK and Iran was in both countries’ best interests. Starmer also emphasized the need for Iran to cease their destabilizing actions, including threats against individuals in the UK, and not to further aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This call between Starmer and Pezeshkian was reminiscent of a similar one made by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022, just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Currently, Israel is facing an investigation for genocide at the World Court, and their Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, are being sought for arrest by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor. The situation in the Middle East remains deeply concerning, and Starmer has urged for calm and diplomatic solutions to be pursued.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
