The Prime Minister has landed in the Gulf for talks with allies
(Image: PA)
Sir Keir Starmer has been joined by 10 other world leaders in signing a joint statement calling for a “lasting end” to the war in the Middle East.
The statement, which was released by the Prime Minister’s Press Office on Wednesday afternoon (8 April), comes just 12 hours after Donald Trump announced that he had agreed to a provisional two-week ceasefire in the Iran war
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US President said: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”
Hours before, the 79-year-old said: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again” – threatening a fresh wave of strikes against Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi all joined Sir Keir in putting pen to paper on a call for a permanent ceasfire.
The statement reads: “We welcome the two-week ceasefire concluded between the United States and Iran today. We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important agreement.
“The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means.
“We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement.”
Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on April 8 2026. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before US President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) /(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It continued: “This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. It can avert a severe global energy crisis.
“We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.”
The eleven world leaders added: “We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon. Our Governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The document was released as the UK Prime Minister landed in Saudi Arabia to push for a long-term resolution to the conflict.
Sir Keir is set to hold talks with Gulf leaders including Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman on how best to support the pause in fighting and ensure passage is permanently restored through the key oil and gas shipping route.