Sir Keir Starmer has risked a fresh rift with Donald Trump after confirming Britain won’t be following the US in lifting sanctions on Russian oil, saying the move risks helping Vladimir Putin’s “war machine”.
No 10 has instead urged its international allies to maintain pressure on Moscow and avoid inadvertently funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil.
Trump’s decision to issue exemptions for Russian oil already at sea has sparked fears that Putin could use the Iran war to boost Russia’s war chest, with foreign secretary Yvette Cooper accusing Russia and Iran of attempting to “hijack the global economy”.
It came amid concerns that instability in the Middle East could hit the cost of living around the world after Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped to more than $100 (£74) a barrel earlier this week for the first time since 2022. Meanwhile, it has been estimated that Russia is earning as much as $150m a day in extra revenues from its oil sales as a result of surging prices.
But as the conflict escalated, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth played down concerns over disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the US was “decimating” the Tehran regime.
He also told a news conference that Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and probably disfigured in the recent attacks.
“Iran’s leadership is in no better shape, desperate and hiding. They’ve gone underground”, he said.
At the briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also confirmed the deaths of six US service members in a military plane crash in Iraq. US Central Command said all aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker were killed in the incident late on Thursday, as investigators worked to piece together what happened.
At least 13 US service members have now been killed since the war started two weeks ago. Some 140 have been wounded.
Hitting back at Trump’s decision to temporarily ease sanctions on the Kremlin, the prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters that the “best way to continue to stop Russia supporting hostile actors is to continue on collective pressure”.
Asked if Sir Keir was disappointed by the move, the spokesperson said: “Ultimately, it’s obviously a decision for the US, but our position is clear. All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest.
“Our support for Ukraine is degrading Russia’s ability to wage war around the globe, both militarily and financially. The best way to continue to stop Russia supporting hostile actors is to continue on collective pressure and end the war in Ukraine.”
He also ruled out Britain following Washington’s lead, saying: “Our sanctions remain and there is no question about that. We remain committed to exerting that maximum economic pressure.”
Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Emily Thornberry backed that stance, telling The Independent: “We should not be easing sanctions on Russia. We have to remember that we have a war in Europe where Russia is the aggressor.”
