Starmer: Brace for Long Iran Conflict, UK Plans Economic Support

0:00This has been Europe news today, powered by AI. I'm Corey, with the story. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Britain needs to brace for the conflict with Iran to drag on for some time. Speaking of lawmakers on Monday, he said it's tough to predict how long the crisis might last, and urged his team to avoid assuming a quick resolution. His comments came during an appearance before a key Parliamentary committee. Earlier that day, US President Donald Trump announced he would hold off on planned strikes against Iranian energy sites. This followed what he called very productive talks, with top Iranian officials, with more discussions expected soon. Trump had set a deadline of 11.45 pm Monday for Iran to reopen the straight-of-form moves to shipping, but the negotiations led to major points. Of agreement, Starmer welcomed the reports of US-Iran dialogue, and stressed that the UK's main push remained swift, de-escalation. He noted Britain was aware of the talks, and emphasized planning for a longer haul in

1:01government preparations that afternoon. Later Monday, Starmer will lead an emergency covert committee meeting to tackle the economic fallout from the tensions. Key figures like Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary of Vett Cooper, Energy Secretary Ed Miliban, and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, are set to join. The group will review broader economic supports, building on recent aid for households using heating oil. As these diplomatic efforts unfold, and contingency plans take shape, the focus stays on steadying both security and the economy amid uncertainty.