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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK condemns unequivocally Iran’s reckless attack against Israel: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK condemns unequivocally Iran’s reckless attack against Israel: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council briefing on Iran’s attack against Israel, 14 April 2024.

    The United Kingdom condemns unequivocally Iran’s reckless attack against Israel, which risked thousands of civilian casualties.

    The scale and nature of Iran’s heinous assault – the first direct attack from Iran on Israeli soil – poses grave risks to the security and stability of citizens across the Middle East.

    The United Kingdom has long been clear that Iran plays an unacceptable role in destabilising the region, and that it also bears responsibility for the actions of the groups it has supported militarily, financially, and politically over many years. Through this attack, Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in the region.

    As we have demonstrated, the United Kingdom will continue to stand up for Israel’s security, and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. We welcome the actions of our allies to deter the Iranian threat.

    No one wants to see further bloodshed. The United Kingdom is also continuing to work urgently alongside the international community to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. It is vital that all parties exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action that may heighten tensions further in the region.

    We also call on Iran to release the MSC Aries and its crew unconditionally and without delay.

    Iran’s actions do nothing to advance the prospects for peace in Israel and Gaza. As set out in Security Council resolution 2728, the United Kingdom remains resolved to work with international partners to secure an immediate pause in the fighting in Gaza to get aid in and hostages out, leading to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.

    Published 15 April 2024
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions businesses funding Sudan war [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions businesses funding Sudan war [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2024.

    The UK announced sanctions on businesses which support the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the military groups behind the conflict in Sudan.

    • sanctions imposed by the UK on businesses which support activity of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the military groups behind the conflict in Sudan
    • new sanctions follow the UK’s commitment to nearly double aid for Sudan as the humanitarian crisis deepens
    • the UK again calls on the warring parties to commit to a lasting ceasefire and lift restrictions which are preventing aid reaching those who need it the most

    A year after the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, the UK has today (15 April) imposed new sanctions on businesses linked with financing the warring parties.

    Strict measures will impose an asset freeze on companies linked to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and will limit their financial freedom.

    These sanctions send a clear signal to the warring parties that they must end fighting and meaningfully engage in a peace process.

    The conflict in Sudan has caused more than 8.6 million people to flee their homes, with over 6.6 million displaced within Sudan itself – the world’s worst displacement crisis. 25 million people in Sudan need assistance, and the country is on the verge of a catastrophic hunger crisis.  The UN has formally warned of the risk of famine this year, with 18 million currently facing hunger.

    Last month, the UK committed a £89 million package of support for Sudan, predominately for humanitarian aid. This includes funding to UNICEF which will provide emergency and life-saving food assistance to support people, particularly those in hard-to reach areas in Sudan, including nutrition, water and hygiene services for 500,000 children under five.  It will also support survivors of gender-based violence.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    This senseless and brutal war has devastated lives. A year on since the outbreak of fighting, we continue to see appalling atrocities against civilians, unacceptable restrictions on humanitarian access and an utter disregard for civilian life.

    The businesses that support the warring parties must be held to account, alongside those responsible for human rights abuses.  The world must not forget about Sudan. We urgently need to end the violence.

    Last month, Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell visited Chad where he announced £89 million of funding to Sudan, including support to UNICEF which will provide emergency and life-saving food assistance.

    Today, Lord Benyon took part in an International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan, where he reaffirmed the UK’s near-doubling of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Sudan to £89 million this financial year.

    The sanctions announced today are:

    • Alkhaleej Bank, a financial institution which has been key to the RSF financing its operations and to it controlling key elements of the Sudanese economy
    • Al-Fakher Advanced Works, a holding company used by the RSF to export gold. The proceeds of these sales are used to purchase weapons to allow the RSF to continue fighting
    • Red Rock Mining, a mining and exploration company which is a subsidiary of Sudan Master Technology, which the UK has already designated and provides funds to the SAF. It is also closely linked to Defence Industries System, the economic and manufacturing arm of the SAF, which we designated last July
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government procurement department marks 10th anniversary having saved taxpayers £3.8 billion last year alone [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government procurement department marks 10th anniversary having saved taxpayers £3.8 billion last year alone [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 April 2024.

    Over £3.8 billion of taxpayer money has been saved by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) in the last year alone, as the agency celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

    • Commercial benefits increased from £606 million a year in 2017/18* to £3.8 billion a year in 2022/23.
    • Choice of approved suppliers on Crown Commercial Service commercial agreements has risen significantly from 1,700 to more than 10,000, of which 7,500 are SMEs (a growth of 88% compared to 2014).
    • Now approximately 120 currently live agreements, used by over 21,000 customers.

    Over £3.8 billion of taxpayer money has been saved by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) in the last year alone, as the agency celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

    CCS centralises government procurement, allowing thousands of public sector organisations to procure services quicker and easier, whilst saving taxpayers substantial sums of money each year.

    Over 21,000 public sector organisations are now supported through the central system, including schools, hospitals and prisons saving them money on purchases from food to IT and allowing them to invest in the vital public services each of us use every day.

    Over the last 10 years, 10,000 suppliers have been brought onto agreements, with over 7,500 of them being SMEs. Supporting SMEs to win contracts with the public sector, and gain a bigger slice of the £300 billion a year public procurement pie.

    Alex Burghart, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, said:

    Over the past ten years, Crown Commercial Service has brought substantial benefits to its customers across the public sector.

    Through its offer of a wide range of choices and working to bring better value across their commercial activity, CCS has already helped customers to achieve billions of pounds of commercial benefits.

    I congratulate the CCS on all that it has achieved in its first decade, and look forward to seeing its continued success and growth.

    Simon Tse, CEO of CCS, said:

    CCS’s 10-year anniversary is an exciting milestone, not only because we have so much to look back on and be proud of, but also because it marks the start of our next chapter.

    I would like to say a special thank you to our fantastic team (past and present) for all of their hard work and dedication – and to the many amazing customers and suppliers we have had the pleasure of working alongside.

    We are still on a journey of changing and evolving as an organisation to ensure that we can achieve everything we have set out to achieve in our ambitious strategy.

    CCS, an executive agency of the Cabinet Office, was established to replace the Government Procurement Service, with the aim of centralising central government procurement spend and helping the public sector to better extract value from its commercial and procurement activity. As a Trading Fund, predecessor organisations to CCS began in 1991.

    It provides commercial agreements which give all public sector bodies a choice of vetted suppliers who offer the best value, leveraging the scale of public sector demand. By using these agreements to source everything from locum doctors and laptops to police cars and electricity, public sector customers can achieve commercial benefits such as reduced costs compared to market prices and better value in contract terms and conditions.

    CCS also has responsibility for building commercial skills and capability across government and the public sector. For example, in 2022, it announced a commitment to invest £12 million in the NHS to enable a common procurement platform, Atamis, across the health service.

    Within the first year of the programme significant benefits and efficiencies have already been realised, with further still expected as the platform is more widely rolled out.

    This includes the North West London Procurement Services, which provides a single shared service for 9 NHS partner organisations. The switch to the Atamis system has helped them to identify £34 million of commercial benefits, allowing them to reinvest into patient care.

    *The methodology for calculating commercial benefits has evolved since the formation of CCS. The current methodology was established in FY 2017/18 and provides a like-for-like comparison to the present day.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reckless Houthi actions continue to undermine efforts to bring peace to the Yemeni people: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reckless Houthi actions continue to undermine efforts to bring peace to the Yemeni people: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

    Thank you, President, and let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg and Director Wosornu for your briefings. And I am also grateful to Ms. Shaki for highlighting the connections between climate, peace and security in Yemen as well as the stark humanitarian situation. As you’ve said, and we’ve heard, Yemen faces stark environmental challenges on top of the ongoing conflict and addressing these issues now, and as part of any discussions for peace, will be critical to Yemen’s future sustainability.

    We also share Director Wosornu’s, and Ms. Shaki’s, concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and in particular, the access constraints preventing women aid workers from delivering vital assistance. We reiterate our call for all parties to facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian workers and welcome OCHA’s proposals for adapted measures, as Ms Wosornu has just outlined.

    The UK has provided over $1.2 billion since the crisis started. We gave $110 million in humanitarian funding last year and we expect to increase our contribution this year.

    We also continue to support fully the ongoing efforts, of the Special Envoy, to progress a roadmap towards UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue. As we’ve said before, an inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring sustainable peace and long-term stability to Yemen and address the worsening humanitarian crisis.

    President, we unequivocally condemn the Iranian strikes against Israel over the weekend, which have done nothing to advance prospects for peace in Gaza. The UK has long been clear about Iran’s unacceptable role in destabilising the region, including their role in supporting the Houthis in Yemen. We understand the Houthis contributed to this latest attack. Their reckless actions continue to risk seriously undermining efforts to bring peace to the Yemeni people.

    The Houthis continue to risk further escalation with their ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea. This Council has been clear in its adoption of UNSCR 2722 on 10 January that we condemn Houthi attacks. They threaten innocent lives, endanger aid delivery to Yemen and the region.

    We also reaffirm our condemnation of the attack on a home in Rada last month by the Houthis. This attack led to a tragic loss of life and injury and we express our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured.

    Furthermore, the decision to issue counterfeit currency in Yemen threatens to destabilise the banking sector and deepen division in the country’s already fragile economy.

    Finally, President, we call on the Houthis to prioritise the interests of the Yemeni people, to engage with UN efforts to resolve economic fragmentation and to cease provocations in order to preserve space for an intra-Yemeni peace process. In short, we call on the Houthis to stop attacks and return to the peace talks.

    Thank you, President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Causes of death to be scrutinised in revamp of death certificates [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Causes of death to be scrutinised in revamp of death certificates [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 April 2024.

    To strengthen safeguards, medical examiners will look at the cause of death in all cases that have not been referred to the coroner.

    • Widely welcomed reforms to the system will provide greater transparency to the bereaved and help protect the public
    • All deaths not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by medical examiners, from 9 September 2024
    • Cases such as those involving Harold Shipman and Lucy Letby highlighted the need for an extra layer of scrutiny

    Public protection and support for bereaved families are at the heart of a government overhaul of how deaths are certified.

    From September, medical examiners will look at the cause of death in all cases that have not been referred to the coroner in a move designed to help strengthen safeguards and prevent criminal activity.

    They will also consult with families or representatives of the deceased, providing an opportunity for them to raise questions or concerns with a senior doctor not involved in the care of the person who died.

    The changes demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing greater transparency after a death and will ensure the right deaths are referred to coroners for further investigation.

    Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, said:

    Reforming death certification is a highly complex and sensitive process, so it was important for us to make sure we got these changes right.

    At such a difficult time, it’s vital that bereaved families have full faith in how the death of their loved one is certified and have their voices heard if they are concerned in any way.

    The measures I’m introducing today will ensure all deaths are reviewed and the bereaved are fully informed, making the system safer by improving protections against rare abuses.

    Medical examiners are senior medical doctors that independently scrutinise the causes of death. Since 2019, NHS trusts have appointed medical examiners to scrutinise most deaths in acute healthcare settings and some community settings on a non-statutory basis.

    From 9 September 2024 it will become a requirement that all deaths in any health setting that are not referred to the coroner in the first instance are subject to medical examiner scrutiny.

    Welcoming the announcement today, Dr Suzy Lishman CBE, Senior Advisor on Medical Examiners for the Royal College of Pathologists, said:

    As the lead college for medical examiners, the Royal College of Pathologists welcomes the announcement of the statutory implementation date for these important death certification reforms.

    Medical examiners are already scrutinising the majority of deaths in England and Wales, identifying concerns, improving care for patients and supporting bereaved people. The move to a statutory system in September will further strengthen those safeguards, ensuring that all deaths are reviewed and that the voices of all bereaved people are heard.

    National Medical Examiner, Dr Alan Fletcher, said:

    I am delighted that the statutory basis for independent medical examiners is confirmed. This will ensure all bereaved people have a voice, supporting patient safety learning and improvement, including through accurate coroner referrals.

    Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Eluned Morgan, said:

    I am pleased to see death certification reforms are taking a long-awaited step forward today.

    The legislative framework I have laid for Wales will pave the way for greater public protection and an improved service for the bereaved.

    Moving the current medical examiner service onto a statutory basis will also introduce independent scrutiny of all deaths and an increased opportunity for learning and improvement across the health sector.

    Laying the regulations before Parliament today and setting out a timeline for the new system to be implemented means all those involved in the death certification process have the chance to prepare before it comes into force.

    Work is already ongoing across government and the health service to ensure that the appropriate operational processes are in place to deliver the changes, which have the backing of all key stakeholders.

    There will be further communication regarding legislative changes and operational guidance between now and September.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Tunisia [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Tunisia [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2024.

    Mr Roderick Drummond has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia in succession to Ms Helen Winterton who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Drummond will take up his appointment during September 2024.

    CURRICULUM VITAE

    Full name: Roderick Ian Drummond

    2019 to 2023 Manama, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bahrain
    2016 to 2019 FCO, Director of Security for FCO/HMG overseas network
    2013 to 2016 Suva, British High Commissioner to Fiji & Head of South Pacific Network. Also accredited to Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia
    2009 to 2013 Riyadh, Deputy Head of Mission
    2007 to 2008  Doha, Chargé d’Affaires
    2004 to 2007  Damascus, Deputy Head of Mission
    2002 to 2004 Amman, Deputy Head of Mission
    1998 to 2002 UKRep Brussels, RELEX Counsellor
    1996 to 1998   Johannesburg, Deputy Consul General/Trade Director
    1992 to 1995  FCO, Head of Section West/Central Africa
    1988 to 1992 Algiers, Second Secretary Political/Economic/Commercial
    1986 to 1988 SOAS then University of Amman, Arabic Language Training
    1985 to 1986 FCO, Desk Officer for Indonesia and Philippines
    1985 Joined FCO
  • PRESS RELEASE : G7 statement on Iran’s attack against Israel [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : G7 statement on Iran’s attack against Israel [April 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 April 2024.

    G7 Leaders joined a call on Sunday following Iran’s attack the previous evening.

    We, the Leaders of the G7, unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel. Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel. Israel, with the help of its partners, defeated the attack. We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.

    With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided. We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation. In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives.

    We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Anfal Campaign 36th Anniversary – FCDO minister’s statement [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Anfal Campaign 36th Anniversary – FCDO minister’s statement [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2024.

    The Minister of State for the Middle East honours the many Kurdish people in Iraq killed and injured during Saddam Hussein’s brutal military campaign.

    On the 36th anniversary, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, said:

    On this sombre day, we remember the men, women and children who were victims of Saddam Hussein’s inhumane, coordinated campaign against Kurdish and other minority groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq between 1986 and 1989.

    The Anfal Campaign saw appalling acts committed, from the forcible displacement, murder, and maiming of 50,000-100,000 individuals to destroying 4,000 Kurdish villages.

    On 16 March 2024, our staff at the British Consulate General in Erbil visited Halabja to pay their respects to the victims massacred during the 1988 Chemical Attack – Saddam Hussein’s most infamous use of chemical weapons against the Kurdish people.

    Today we honour the memory of all those who were killed in this campaign, and my thoughts and prayers are with all their loved ones and survivors who suffer day-in day-out from this tragedy.

    The UK remains committed in its support for the peace, stability and prosperity of the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £1.5 Million investment to improve in-work health services as part of government drive to tackle inactivity [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £1.5 Million investment to improve in-work health services as part of government drive to tackle inactivity [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 April 2024.

    Reforms to occupational health services will be shaped through a £1.5m innovation fund, through Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), as the government continues its drive to tackle in work sickness and boost economic activity using new technology and artificial intelligence.

    • Five projects to share £1.5 million funding to boost occupational health services for small and medium-sized businesses.
    • Artificial intelligence and new technology at heart of revolution including expansion of remote services, digital health hubs, and Long Covid support.
    • New support comes as inactivity due to long term sickness increases by 735,000 since the pandemic
    • Occupational health reforms part of Government’s plan reduce economic inactivity by helping thousands more stay and succeed in work

    Five projects will receive a share of this funding to develop new and innovative ways to improve occupational health services which will eventually be scaled-up and made available to small businesses to help them support their employees to stay in work.

    One successful company, Kinseed Limited, is developing a revolutionary cloud-based occupational health platform aimed at offering employers’ powerful new tools to help maintain and improve employee health and wellbeing.

    Their new service “MediWork” is breaking ground with AI and uses data to monitor individual health trends and identifies early warning signs of ill health. It will tailor suggestions to improve workplace wellbeing, and help clinicians do their job more effectively and quickly than before.

    The new technology developed through the Fund will help unlock opportunities to improve people’s work and wellbeing as the government boosts health and employment support to drive down inactivity.

    Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

    Time off work due to sickness costs British business £100 billion every year. The innovative solutions developed through this funding will benefit businesses as we harness AI and technology to support a healthier and more productive workforce.

    Delivering through our Back to Work Plan and Occupational Health Taskforce, we are driving down inactivity and helping people reach their potential both in work and their daily lives.

    Pal Bhusate, Chief Executive Officer at Kinseed Limited, added:

    We’re very excited to be working with cutting edge technology in AI and Cloud systems to keep people healthy and safe at work – and this fund has been absolutely critical in helping us do precisely that.

    Supporting small and medium businesses in these areas is the only way that industries like ours can rapidly adapt to and get value from these incredible developments – and it’s brilliant to see such positive and active support from government to encourage that agility and innovation.

    Before the pandemic, inactivity in the UK had fallen by over 850,000 and while it currently remains lower than G7, EU and OECD averages, many people including those from younger generations are out of work due to long term sickness, in large part been driven by mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

    With long-term sickness now the main reason people of working-age give for being economically inactive, occupational health services can help employers provide in work support to manage their employees’ health conditions and reduce the number of those becoming inactive.

    However, only 45% of workers in Britain have access to some form of occupational health, with an estimated 1.8 million workers reporting work-related ill health in 2022/23. That’s why the government is working with companies to develop new technology to better understand employee health, provide tailored support and tackle long-term sickness to help people stay and succeed in work.

    We’ve introduced reforms to address this through the government’s new WorkWell service and £2.3 billion in extra mental health funding a year in England to ensure people can reach their potential and get the support they need to reap the financial, mental and physical benefits being in work has to offer.

    The Occupational Health Innovation Fund and new Occupational Health Taskforce builds on this, and the government’s £2.5bn Back to Work Plan will support over a million people including those with mental health conditions to break down barriers to finding and staying work through the use of NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support, Restart and Universal Support programmes.

    Minister for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP, commented:

    Every year many thousands of people take time off work – or leave work altogether – because of ill health. But at the same time, there are millions of people who are working with health conditions, often supported by occupational health services.

    We want more people to be able to benefit from occupational health support, particularly people working in smaller businesses or those who are self-employed. That’s why we’re investing in these innovative approaches to occupational health. This sits alongside our plans for WorkWell which will help people access support to stay in work, and our fit note reforms.

    A healthy economy depends on a healthy workforce. Making sure people can be healthy and stay in work is crucial for individuals, businesses and our country as a whole.

    Another organisation, Armour Labs Limited, is building a digital health hub for SME’s and the self-employed to reduce the cost of access to occupational health services.

    They will partner with digital healthcare providers and merge these services into health plans for UK employees which they can access through an online portal and future mobile app to help make Occupational Health support more accessible and efficient than ever.

    Aleezay Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Armour Labs Ltd, added:

    Armour Labs is building the digital marketplace for employers to procure and deploy Occupational Health services that cater to their workforce’s diverse and individual needs.

    Through the support of this Fund, we are now in the process of testing and rolling out our solution in the market which we expect will make Occupational Health not only more accessible and affordable for businesses, but also reduce ill health related absenteeism by 30%.

    In February, the government launched a new Occupational Health Taskforce, led by Dame Carol Black, to improve employer awareness of the benefits of Occupational Health in the workplace.

    The Taskforce is developing an occupational health framework to help businesses prevent sickness-related job loss and support employees returning to work after illness. The voluntary framework is expected to be published this summer.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Summoning of the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires – FCDO statement [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Summoning of the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires – FCDO statement [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2024.

    The Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office today, 14 April 2024.

    Today, on instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

    The Foreign Secretary summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy today.

    The UK condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel, as well as their violation of Jordan and Iraq’s airspace. At a time of great tension in the Middle East, this was a profoundly dangerous and unnecessary escalation by Iran.

    The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the civilian ship ‘MSC Aries’ and its crew, which was seized by Iranian armed forces yesterday in international waters.

    The Iranian authorities must take meaningful and immediate action to de-escalate and halt its reckless and unlawful behaviour.

    The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and the security of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. We will also continue to work with our international partners to protect and uphold stability in the region.