Starmer blasted for ‘appeasing’ Iran in response to Israeli strikes

The government has been criticised for its response to Israeli strikes against Iran.

Overnight, the IDF declared that it eliminated senior Iranian military figures, including the Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command in strikes across Iran – including on sites linked to Iran’s nuclear programme – by over 200 Israeli jets.

Reacting to the news, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer described the strikes as “concerning” and urged “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently.”

In a post on X, he added that: “Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”

Later on Friday morning, Middle East minister Hamish Falconer declared that “The UK did not participate in the strikes overnight, and we are engaging with partners to urge de-escalation.”

However, the government’s response was criticised as weak.

Conservative MP Suella Braverman speaking at the launch a new campaign to end the influence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei on the UK by UANI. Byline John Nguyen/JNVisuals 07/01/2025 John Nguyen/JNVisuals

Former home secretary Suella Braverman told the JC: “The UK government has shamefully decided to try and appease the despotic mullahs in Iran rather than support our close ally and only liberal democracy in the Middle East.”

She added, “I stand with Israel and it is vital the whole country does too.”

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also took a more assertive tone than Starmer and declared in a post on X that “Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons”.

She added that although the UK should be “working with allies to prevent further escalation”, it was important to be “clear-eyed about the reality.

“The world is becoming more dangerous, and Britain must be ready to defend itself.”

When asked whether the UK would assist in defending Israel from potential Iranian retaliation, as was the case in April and October 2024, the Foreign Office did not respond, but sources in the department said the situation was being continually monitored.

Britain’s response initial response stood in contrast to France, whose foreign minister reaffirmed “Israel’s right to defend itself against any attack”.

Jean-Noel Barrot added that France had “repeatedly expressed our deep concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear programme” and went on to repeat calls to avoid “any escalation that could undermine regional stability”.

However, late Friday afternoon, in an interview with Bloomberg, Starmer said that he had “grave concerns about the nuclear programme that Iran is putting together” and said that he recognised “Israel’s right to self-defence”, while repeating calls for de-escelation across the region.

Following a call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Downing Street spokesperson said that: “

“The leaders discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilize the region.

“The leaders reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defence, and agreed that a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward.”

There were some British political leaders who explicitly condemned Israel’s actions.

Scottish first minister John Swinny said that the “horrendously dangerous situation in Iran must stop.

He added: "The International community must bring Israel to account and halt this latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East.”

The Green Party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, and leadership candidate, Ellie Chowns MP, described Israel’s attack as “an incredibly dangerous escalation.

“This is not the way to tackle the growing Iranian nuclear threat. It’s reckless, provocative and risks full scale war”, she said on X and urged the government to “clearly condemn” the attack “and use every lever possible to de-escalate”.