Keir Starmer said talks with leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had reinforced his view that the ceasefire involving Iran remains fragile, as the prime minister continued a round of discussions with regional partners on Thursday.
The comments came as the UK government followed a separate set of concerns about Russian activity at sea. In interviews this morning, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper declined to confirm reports that a Russian warship had escorted two sanctioned Russian ships through the English Channel.
The ships in question are understood to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels used to transport oil that helps fund the war in Ukraine. The UK recently announced that armed forces have been authorised to board such vessels in British waters in order to stop them.
Cooper on Russian shadow fleet
Cooper did not directly address the reports of the escort, but said the government had already put permission in place for action to be taken against the shadow fleet.
“What I can tell you is that we have given permission now for action to be taken against the Russian shadow fleet. Operational decisions then have to be taken in the right way by the military,” she said.
She added that the wider pattern of Russian behaviour was concerning, pointing to indications not only of shadow fleet activity but also of broader threats.
“There are indications of the way in which not just the Russian shadow fleet is operating, but also the way in which we are seeing increased Russian threats, not just to the UK, but across Europe as well,” she said.
Diplomacy on multiple fronts
The prime minister’s talks with the Saudi crown prince and the president of the UAE formed part of a day in which the government was trying to balance concerns over Middle East stability with wider security issues linked to Russia and Ukraine.
Starmer’s warning that the Iran ceasefire is fragile suggests the UK remains cautious about the durability of the deal, even as it works with partners in the Gulf to support de-escalation.
At the same time, the government is under pressure to respond to signs of Russian maritime activity in and around British waters. The authorisation for military action against sanctioned vessels marks a more assertive stance, though Cooper emphasised that operational decisions must still be taken by the armed forces.
The day’s developments highlight the range of foreign policy and security challenges facing the UK government, from tensions in the Middle East to the continued impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the use of oil shipments to sustain it.
More updates were expected as the government continued to navigate both issues, with ministers seeking to show that they can respond to immediate threats while maintaining diplomatic engagement with key international partners.
