Iran conflict will define us for a generation, says Keir Starmer

The Iran conflict will "define us for a generation", Sir Keir Starmer has said on the last day of his visit to the Gulf region. The prime minister said the US-Iran ceasefire agreement was "fragile" and that the Strait of Hormuz would need to be "part of the solution". The shipping lane has effectively been closed to vessels, including those carrying oil and fertiliser, since the start of the conflict leading to a rise in petrol and food prices. It comes after Sir Keir said he was "fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down... because of the actions of Putin or Trump". Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 sparked a huge rise in energy costs, prompting the then-Conservative government to spend billions to cushion the financial blow for all households. In the wake of the Iran war, Sir Keir's government has faced similar questions over what help it is prepared to offer billpayers. It has signalled that any support this time would be targeted, rather than universal. The prime minister made the remarks about the Russian and American presidents during an interview with ITV on Thursday, when he also spoke with Trump to discuss the war. Asked on Fri