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It is “clear the Israelis are making a decision to act” in response to Iran’s unprecedented direct attack, David Cameron has said, as the foreign secretary landed in Israel for talks with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough,” Britain’s foreign secretary told reporters.
The UK wants “to see coordinated sanctions against Iran”, Lord Cameron said, ahead of an upcoming meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy, adding: “They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen at the weekend.”
United States Treasury secretary Janet Yellen has already said she expects Washington will hit Tehran with new sanctions in a matter of days, in a bid to reduce Tehran’s capacity to export oil and ability to finance its proxies throughout the Middle East.
Iran launched the attack in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on 1 April attributed to Israel, but signalled that it did not seek further escalation.
Iran warns it is ready to respond to any Israeli attack
Iran has warned its military is ready to confront any attack by Israel.
Tehran’s air force said it was “prepared for any operation”, while Iran’s navy commander said also that it was escorting Iranian commercial vessels to the Red Sea.
“Any attack by the Zionist regime on our soil will be dealt with a severe response,” Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was reported by state media as saying at a parade held for Iran’s Army Day. Mr Raisi reportedly warned that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response.
The commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force warned at the same event that its warplanes, including Russian-made Sukhoi-24s, were in their “best state of preparedness” to counter any Israeli attack.
“We have full readiness in all fields, including our air coverage and bombers, and are prepared for any operation,” Brigadier General Amir Vahedi said.
Gaza death toll approaches 34,000, Hamas-run health ministry figures suggest
Israel’s war in Gaza Strip has killed at least 33,899 Palestinians and wounded 76,664 since Hamas’s attack on 7 October, the Hamas-run health ministry has said in its latest update.
Fifty-six Palestinians have been killed and 89 injured in the past 24 hours, the health ministry alleged.
Iran’s president to visit Pakistan very soon, says PM
Pakistan’s premier Shehbaz Sharif has said that Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will visit the South Asian nation “very soon”.
The statement from his office, following a cabinet meeting, also said that the billions of dollars would be invested by Saudi Arabia following a visit led by the country’s foreign minister to Pakistan this week.
Crew of shipping container seized by Iran are safe, company says
The 25 crew members of the shipping container seized by Iran on Saturday are safe, shipping firm MSC has said, adding that discussions with Iranian authorities are in progress to secure their earliest release.
“We are also working with the Iranian authorities to have the cargo discharged,” the company said.
Portugal’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday to condemn Saturday’s attack on Israel by Tehran and to demand the immediate release of the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries.
MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
More needs to be done to sanction Iran, says Cameron
More can and should be done to sanction Iran following its attack on Israel, David Cameron has said.
Speaking during a trip to Israel, Britain’s foreign secretary told broadcasters: “We want to see coordinated sanctions against Iran.
“Britain has in many ways led the way with our new sanctions regime, sanctioning dozens of people in Iran, sanctioning the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in its entirety, and I think there is more that we can do to show a united front, that Iran is behind so much of the malign activity in this region, backing Hamas, backing Hezbollah, backing the Houthis.
“They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen at the weekend.”
‘Clear’ Israel has decided to retaliate to Iran attack, says David Cameron
British foreign minister David Cameron has said it is clear Israel has decided to respond to the Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack – and urged this to be carried out in a way that minimises escalation.
“It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,” Lord Cameron told reporters after landing in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough.
“But the real need is to refocus back on Hamas, back on the hostages, back on getting the aid in, back on getting a pause in the conflict in Gaza.”
Britain wants to see coordinated sanctions against Iran, he said, adding: “They need to be given a clear unequivocal message by the G7.”
IDF releases video claiming to show ballistic missile with 400kg of explosives fired by Iran
Italy urges Gaza ceasefire ahead of G7 meeting
Italy’s foreign minister has urged Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, reiterating that it is time for a ceasefire.
Italy initially backed Israel’s actions in the wake of Hamas’s attack on its southern territories on 7 October, but has since softened its support in the light of the thousands of civilian deaths.
In an interview with La Stampa newspaper, Antonio Tajani stressed that the war in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas’s “barbaric” assault, but added: “However, now a cease-fire is necessary. Israel must stop the military operations that have massively affected the Palestinian population.”
The interview was conducted ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, which will be hosted by Tajani on the Italian island of Capri. Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G7.
David Cameron lands in Israel for talks with Netanyahu
Lord David Cameron has arrived in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior figures following Iran’s attack.
Britain’s foreign secretary is expected to discuss their response to the drone and missile barrage launched by Tehran on Saturday night, having urged restraint, with Rishi Sunak delivering that message to Mr Netanyahu in a phone call on Tuesday, saying this was “a moment for calm heads to prevail”.
Lord Cameron has also urged Tel Aviv to be “smart as well as tough” by not escalating the conflict with Iran, and has recently spoken with his counterparts in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates as part of efforts to reduce tensions in the region.
He is also expected to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza during his trip, and visit the West Bank.
The UK joined allies in defending Israel when Iran launched about 350 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, with British jets shooting down a number of drones.
Conflict in Middle East risks another food and energy price surge
Escalation of conflict in the Middle East risks pushing up food and energy prices across the world, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF said the global economy has had an “eventful” journey in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.
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2024-04-17 09:41:48Z
CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlLWVhc3QvaXNyYWVsLWlyYW4tYXR0YWNrLXdhci11ay1saXZlLW5ld3MtYjI1Mjk5NzEuaHRtbNIBAA
