Britain's Starmer heads to Gulf after U.S.-Iran cease-fire
by Darryl Coote · UPIApril 8 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain will travel to the Gulf to meet with allied leaders, 10 Downing Street said Wednesday, hours after a cease-fire was announced in the war with Iran.
The statement from the prime minister's office was issued after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran had reached an agreement on a two-week cease-fire during which negotiations would continue and Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
According to his office, Starmer is to travel to the Gulf on Wednesday. He is to hold meetings with regional leaders whose countries have been on the front line in the war. As the United States and Israel have been attacking Iran, Iran has been retaliating by attacking U.S. assets and allies in the Gulf.
Starmer is expected to discuss efforts to support the cease-fire and bring a complete resolution to the war, his office said, adding that he will "make clear his government's commitment to de-escalation."
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Talks will also involve discussions on restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed in response to being attacked.
About one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows through the strait, and its closure threatened to plunge many nations in an energy crisis while causing gas costs to spike.
"I welcome the cease-fire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," Starmer said in a statement.
"Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and sustain this cease-fire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz."
The countries he will visit and the duration of the trip were not mentioned. His office said he will be meeting with British service members in the region who "bravely put their lives at risk in the defense of our people, our interests and those of our allies,"
British forces intercepted more than 110 drones in the region during the war, which began on Feb. 28.