This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/18/keir-starmer-to-chair-emergency-cobra-meeting-to-discuss-israel-iran-conflict
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Keir Starmer to chair emergency Cobra meeting to discuss Israel-Iran conflict | Keir Starmer to chair emergency Cobra meeting to discuss Israel-Iran conflict |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK continues to urge de-escalation as concerns grow about possible US intervention in the Middle East | UK continues to urge de-escalation as concerns grow about possible US intervention in the Middle East |
| UK politics live – latest updates | UK politics live – latest updates |
| Middle East crisis – live updates | Middle East crisis – live updates |
| Keir Starmer will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday afternoon amid concerns the US is considering entering the conflict between Israel and Iran, as the UK continues to urge de-escalation. | Keir Starmer will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday afternoon amid concerns the US is considering entering the conflict between Israel and Iran, as the UK continues to urge de-escalation. |
| As the prime minister lands back in Britain after the G7 summit in Canada, he will bring together ministers and senior officials to update the UK’s response to the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East. | As the prime minister lands back in Britain after the G7 summit in Canada, he will bring together ministers and senior officials to update the UK’s response to the rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East. |
| Downing Street was unwilling to repeat Starmer’s comments from Tuesday that he was confident the US would not join Israel’s bombing campaign despite US military deployments and mixed messages from Donald Trump. | Downing Street was unwilling to repeat Starmer’s comments from Tuesday that he was confident the US would not join Israel’s bombing campaign despite US military deployments and mixed messages from Donald Trump. |
| One key issue for the UK would be whether to give permission for the US to fly B-2 stealth bombers from the Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean to attack Iran’s nuclear enrichment site, which is between 80 and 90 metres inside a mountain at Fordow. | One key issue for the UK would be whether to give permission for the US to fly B-2 stealth bombers from the Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean to attack Iran’s nuclear enrichment site, which is between 80 and 90 metres inside a mountain at Fordow. |
| The recently announced agreement by which the UK would lease the airbase from Mauritius gives the UK ultimate operational control. It is mainly used by the US in practice, but the fact that it is British run means Starmer would have to approve its use for an attack on Iran, unless there was some separate undisclosed guidance that applied in exceptional situations. | |
| Similar permission would be required if the US wanted to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where B-2s are based in Europe, though this is considered a less likely option for an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. | Similar permission would be required if the US wanted to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where B-2s are based in Europe, though this is considered a less likely option for an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. |
| Refusal by the UK would not prevent an attack on Fordow, because it is possible for the bombers to strike from their home base in Whiteman, Missouri, but it would be interpreted as a lack of British support for the attack. | Refusal by the UK would not prevent an attack on Fordow, because it is possible for the bombers to strike from their home base in Whiteman, Missouri, but it would be interpreted as a lack of British support for the attack. |
| British officials have repeatedly emphasised that the UK is not expected to participate with its own military in an attack on Iran, unless there were some exceptional circumstances. The UK has sent Typhoon jets to the Middle East, but it is to protect its bases and forces. | |
| The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, standing in for Starmer at prime minister’s questions, insisted the UK would continue to back a diplomatic route to resolving the conflict. | The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, standing in for Starmer at prime minister’s questions, insisted the UK would continue to back a diplomatic route to resolving the conflict. |
| “The one thing I will say is we agree with President Trump that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, but we’ve been consistent in urging Iran to engage in the diplomatic process and work with the United States, and we continue to support that diplomatic approach,” she told MPs. | “The one thing I will say is we agree with President Trump that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, but we’ve been consistent in urging Iran to engage in the diplomatic process and work with the United States, and we continue to support that diplomatic approach,” she told MPs. |
| The Foreign Office has advised British citizens in Israel to stay put and close to shelter, despite the families of embassy staff leaving the country on Tuesday night. No 10 was unable to say why embassy families were told to leave. | The Foreign Office has advised British citizens in Israel to stay put and close to shelter, despite the families of embassy staff leaving the country on Tuesday night. No 10 was unable to say why embassy families were told to leave. |
| Family members of British diplomatic staff working at the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem had been “temporarily withdrawn as a precautionary measure”, although staff at the mission remained, the Foreign Office said. | Family members of British diplomatic staff working at the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem had been “temporarily withdrawn as a precautionary measure”, although staff at the mission remained, the Foreign Office said. |
| Despite the official advice not to leave, Downing Street flagged that commercial transport services to border crossings were operating regularly, though subject to safety alerts, and were not currently full. | Despite the official advice not to leave, Downing Street flagged that commercial transport services to border crossings were operating regularly, though subject to safety alerts, and were not currently full. |
| Sign up to First Edition | Sign up to First Edition |
| Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters | Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| “First and foremost, this is a fast-moving situation. We’re keeping all our advice under constant review, and the FCDO continues to plan for a variety of developments. As you’d expect, the safety and security of British nationals is our top priority,” a No 10 spokesperson said. | “First and foremost, this is a fast-moving situation. We’re keeping all our advice under constant review, and the FCDO continues to plan for a variety of developments. As you’d expect, the safety and security of British nationals is our top priority,” a No 10 spokesperson said. |
| “Our key message to British nationals in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories is to follow the advice of local authorities on staying close to shelter.” | “Our key message to British nationals in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories is to follow the advice of local authorities on staying close to shelter.” |
| Downing Street said the government’s priority was to de-escalate the conflict, after Trump left the G7 summit a day early to fly back to Washington. | Downing Street said the government’s priority was to de-escalate the conflict, after Trump left the G7 summit a day early to fly back to Washington. |
| “The prime minister, the foreign secretary, have spoken with partners and counterparts across the region and beyond, including all our allies, to reiterate the need for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” the spokesperson said. “You can expect to see this continue today. Our priority is de-escalation, and that is what ministers will continue to push.” | “The prime minister, the foreign secretary, have spoken with partners and counterparts across the region and beyond, including all our allies, to reiterate the need for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” the spokesperson said. “You can expect to see this continue today. Our priority is de-escalation, and that is what ministers will continue to push.” |
| Starmer, asked by reporters at the G7 on Tuesday about the prospect of the US joining military action, said: “There’s nothing the president said that suggests that he’s about to get involved in this conflict. On the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation … I was sitting right next to President Trump, so I’ve no doubt, in my mind, the level of agreement.” | Starmer, asked by reporters at the G7 on Tuesday about the prospect of the US joining military action, said: “There’s nothing the president said that suggests that he’s about to get involved in this conflict. On the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation … I was sitting right next to President Trump, so I’ve no doubt, in my mind, the level of agreement.” |
| The No 10 spokesperson, asked 24 hours later whether he would repeat the prime minister’s words, would only say: “This is an extremely fast-moving situation, and we are working with partners to reiterate the need to return to diplomacy.” |