Cooper told UK Parliament 100,000 of 300,000 Britons in the region have been evacuated.

2026-03-18 - 09:53

The UK wants to see the quickest possible resolution to the current crisis in the Middle East to bring back security and stability to the region, said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Tuesday. Delivering a speech to Parliament, Cooper stressed support and solidarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, saying that she reflected this position during her visit to the region last week. “We want to see the swiftest possible resolution of this crisis, that brings security and stability back to the region, Iran stops threats to its neighbors,” said Cooper who condemned Iran’s hijacking of the global economy by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. She indicated that the Iranian action had affected the UK’s security and prosperity, affirming that the government will take measures to support citizens during this crisis. She informed Parliament of the UK measures to protect allies and evacuate British nationals, of whom 100,000 have been returned to the UK out of more than 300,000 in the region. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Cooper reiterated that the UK has been in discussions with allies throughout the world to peacefully resolve the issue and reopen the Strait because of its importance to international shipping lanes, global commerce and energy supplies. “Our discussions will continue to reflect serious, expert military and commercial assessments about what is credible and feasible so that commercial shipping can return as soon as possible as the conflict subsides,” she said. On Lebanon, Cooper urged for calm and a halt of violence to prevent further civilian suffering and an increase of violence in the Middle East region, saying that the UK had recently offered GBP five million for essential humanitarian aid. — KUNA