Rishi Sunak is facing further calls from parliament to take action against Iran in the wake of the nation’s direct attack against Israel over the weekend.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and a number of Tory former cabinet ministers called for various steps to be taken, including the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Tehran’s primary fighting force.
The prime minister on Monday delivered a statement to the House of Commons in the wake of events in the Middle East over the weekend.
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Mr Sunak said “all sides must show restraint” – and that he would be speaking with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly, although this call is not expected to take place on Monday.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday evening, with the attack finished by Sunday morning.
Israel said that, alongside its allies, it intercepted 99% of the projectiles.
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The UK played a role in this operation, with Mr Sunak earlier confirming the Royal Air Force shot down “a number of drones”.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Sunak said: “With this attack, Iran has once again shown its true colours. They are intent on sowing chaos in their own back yard, on further destabilising the Middle East.
‘We want to see calmer heads prevail’
“Our aim is to support stability and security because it is right for the region and because, although the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has a direct effect on our security and prosperity at home.
“So, we’re working urgently with our allies to de-escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed. We want to see calmer heads prevail, and we’re directing all our diplomatic efforts to that end.”
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He said that “further diplomatic measures” to be taken were discussed with G7 leaders over the weekend.
But the prime minister did not outline what these actions may be.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman was joined by former work and pensions secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith in calling for the IRGC to be proscribed.
Proscription calls
Mr Sunak responded by saying the organisation had been sanctioned – not proscribed – as a whole.
Responding to Ms Braverman, he repeated that “as the right honourable lady knows, we don’t comment on any potential proscription decisions”.
Political correspondent
It was expected that the prime minister would address the Commons following such a significant attack over the weekend.
Condemning the actions of Iran on Saturday evening, Rishi Sunak said that, while Israel had the right to defend itself, “all sides must show restraint”.
But for all the talk of a “despotic regime”, many backbenchers were asking what threats from the UK will now follow.
Tory MPs have called on the government to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation before, saying it would be a step towards restoring stability to the Middle East.
And today, senior backbenchers, Suella Braverman and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, asked the prime minister again why the IRGC had not been proscribed, meaning it would become a criminal offence in Britain to belong to the group, attend meetings or carry its logo in public.
In the strongest hint yet that a change could be afoot in this area, Mr Sunak responded to Conservative MP Sir Liam Fox tthat he had spoken to G7 allies, and discussed the need and benefit of co-ordinating further measures “perhaps including some of the things he talked about” and said this would be to ensure there was “maximum impact both on the regime and on ultimate designations of any future sanctions”.
There are already 400 sanctions on Iran.
The latest were put in place at the end of last year including on the IRGC, but proscribing the group as a terrorist organisation would cut diplomatic ties, which the government today have reiterated have been useful previously in their de-escalation route.
Sir Keir asked for Mr Sunak to “update the house on any new steps he’s taking with our international partners to pursue sanctions against the regime – and could he clarify what steps he’s taking to limit the power of the revolutionary guard to glorify terrorism here in UK?”
Mr Sunak said the government would update the house at the “appropriate time” when measures were agreed with the G7 to “counter the Iranian regime and its proxies”.
‘Snapback sanctions’
Sir Liam Fox, who was previously international trade secretary, criticised Iran for various issues – including an Iranian journalist being attacked on British soil and an international vessel being pirated by the IRGC in international waters.
He asked to know: “Why are Iran Air still operating out of Heathrow? Why are Iranian banks still operating in the City of London?”
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Sir Liam asked if “snapback sanctions” – UN sanctions which can be reimposed by the UN security council – will be implemented.
Mr Sunak said the G7 were coordinating – “perhaps including some of the things that he talked about”.
