UK PM Sir Keir Starmer Addresses Iran Conflict

Sir Keir Starmer identified three ways in which the public are worrying: about their family and friends, about the impact of this war on the British economy, and about the potential for greater escalation. This press conference appeared to be primarily for the purpose of reassuring Britons.

For those with family and friends stranded in the Middle East, the prime minister sought to manage expectations. He announced that the repatriation flight from Oman that was meant to take off on Wednesday but was scuppered by technical issues is now in the air, and around 4,000 Britons had already made it home.

The government's private hope – but it is just a hope, not an expectation – is that the conflict will calm in time for the government not to have to find a way to evacuate all of those people. The conflict has raised questions about energy security and the potential for greater escalation, with the prime minister warning people that the conflict 'could continue for some time'.