British officials have warned that global food prices could rise due to the economic impact of the ongoing war involving Iran. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet business leaders at Downing Street on Monday to discuss the issue. The warning follows Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has already driven up oil prices and raised concerns about fertilizer costs, according to a maritime analyst.

Lars Jensen, founder and CEO of shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that 20 to 30 percent of the world’s seaborne fertilizer originates from the Persian Gulf region. He cautioned that this disruption could cause food prices to increase rapidly, particularly in poorer countries. The UK’s National Farmers Union also warned that higher fuel and fertilizer costs would inevitably push up domestic food prices.

The discussions at Downing Street are expected to focus on mitigating the potential economic fallout and ensuring stability in the UK’s food supply chain.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday to protest against Islamophobia and far-right extremism. The demonstration, organized by the group Together Alliance, began at Park Lane after participants gathered near Whitehall by the Parliament building. Around 500 organizations, including trade unions, anti-racism campaigners, and Muslim representative bodies, joined what was described as the largest multicultural gathering in British history. Organizers estimated attendance at about 500,000, while London’s Metropolitan Police put the figure closer to 50,000, citing difficulty in determining the exact number due to the large turnout.

Together Alliance chair Kevin Courtney said the march aimed to build confidence in confronting Islamophobia and far-right movements. Trade unionist Adam Mouss told Al Jazeera that racism and Islamophobia had moved from the fringes into mainstream politics. Several left-wing politicians, including independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, MP Diane Abbott, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, joined the rally.

A counter-demonstration featuring Israeli and pre-1979 Iranian royalist flags took place nearby. Police arrested 18 people outside New Scotland Yard during a separate protest supporting Palestine Action.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in what organisers described as the largest anti-far-right demonstration in British history. The Together Alliance, supported by around 500 groups including trade unions, antiracism organisations and Muslim representative bodies, led the rally that converged on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament. Organisers claimed half a million participants, while police estimated about 50,000. The event was met by a much smaller group of counterprotesters waving Israeli and pre-1979 Iranian flags.

Speakers and participants said the march aimed to counter the rise of racism and Islamophobia in mainstream politics, citing figures such as Reform leader Nigel Farage and far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Demonstrators described the atmosphere as inclusive and festive, comparing it to the Notting Hill Carnival. Several left-wing politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Dianne Abbott, and Andy Burnham, joined the crowds, while Amnesty UK praised the event as a call for dignity, compassion and human rights.

The protest took place amid warnings from the group Hope Not Hate that the British far right is becoming “bigger, bolder and more extreme than ever before.”

London’s Metropolitan Police arrested 18 supporters of Palestine Action on Saturday after announcing a reversal of its earlier decision to halt such arrests. The protesters were detained under terrorism legislation while sitting on the steps of New Scotland Yard holding signs expressing opposition to genocide and support for Palestine Action. The arrests came days after Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the force would resume enforcement because the government’s appeal against a High Court ruling had not yet been resolved.

In February, the High Court ruled that the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was unlawful and disproportionate. However, the government obtained a stay pending appeal, leaving the ban technically in force. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to challenge the ruling, while Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring paused hundreds of related prosecutions until the appeal is heard. Critics argue that the police’s renewed arrests defy the court’s judgment.

The crackdown has drawn international criticism, including from the UN and Amnesty International, which warned that the ban risks criminalising free expression. Defend Our Juries has announced a mass sign-holding protest at Trafalgar Square on April 11 as the government’s appeal proceeds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Russia provided Iran with intelligence on US and British military bases located in the Gulf region and on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago. Speaking to journalists, Zelensky read from an intelligence report on his phone, which stated that Russian satellites had been spying on US military bases in the Middle East, the Diego Garcia base, and oil fields across the Gulf. He suggested that this intelligence was handed over to Iran to assist in potential attacks.

Addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, Zelensky said he was working to ensure that the global energy crisis caused by the conflict does not undermine his country’s ability to continue fighting against Russia. In response to a question from the BBC, he added that Ukrainian forces currently have sufficient fuel supplies.

The report highlights growing concerns over Russia’s alleged intelligence-sharing activities and their possible implications for regional security in the Gulf and beyond.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump requested Ukraine’s assistance in countering Iranian drones. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, cited by Al Jazeera, Zelensky said Ukrainian experts are already stationed in several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to support related efforts. He noted that Washington is maintaining direct contact with Kyiv to help protect U.S. military bases in the region.

Zelensky explained that Ukraine has become highly skilled in neutralizing Iranian drones due to their frequent use by Russia in the ongoing war. He stated that existing air defense systems in the Middle East, such as Patriot and THAAD, are insufficient to fully repel heavy drone attacks, and discussions are underway to supply specific Ukrainian interceptors to the region. In return, Ukraine has proposed a mutual assistance deal, seeking air defense missiles from Middle Eastern partners to address shortages in Kyiv.

Zelensky added that Ukraine’s defense industry is operating at half capacity due to financial constraints and expressed hope that new military cooperation with Middle Eastern nations would strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

UK Defense Minister John Healey has alleged that Russia provided Iran with intelligence and training before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. Speaking in an interview with BBC Breakfast, Healey said a so-called 'axis of aggression' has formed between Russia and Iran. He claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence is guiding Iran’s actions and that Moscow seeks to divert global attention from its activities in Ukraine.

Healey stated that Britain’s involvement in the conflict was aimed at protecting UK interests, military installations, and allies in the region. He added that the Royal Air Force had conducted more than one thousand hours of aerial patrols in the area as part of these efforts.

The report also referenced related regional tensions, including statements about Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz and concerns over potential energy instability in Asia if the conflict continues.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the United States has not yet shared any detailed plan to resolve the ongoing conflict. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s 'Today' program, he said that while a plan is being developed, no specific details are currently available.

Healey explained that the United Kingdom is working to bring various countries together and to create alternatives beyond military measures regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized the importance of securing commitments from nations willing to help reopen the strait for maritime traffic. He also described the ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran as a positive step, noting that dialogue between the two sides is welcome.

According to Healey, restoring normal shipping operations in the Strait of Hormuz and achieving regional stability will require an effective path to conflict resolution.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom was aware of the ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. He emphasized that the UK wants to see a reduction in tensions and an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. Starmer welcomed the news of the talks between Washington and Tehran, describing them as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Starmer further noted that any agreement reached through these discussions should impose strict conditions on Iran, particularly concerning nuclear weapons. His remarks reflect the UK government’s position of supporting diplomatic engagement while maintaining firm oversight on nuclear issues.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the UK signaling its preference for diplomacy and stability in addressing the ongoing crisis.

Russia launched missile and drone attacks across Ukraine on Tuesday, prompting air raid alerts nationwide except in the Odesa region. According to Ukraine’s regional military administrations, the strikes killed three people—two in Poltava and one in Zaporizhzhia—and injured several others.

Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the Poltava regional military administration, said on Telegram that residential buildings and a hotel were damaged and caught fire in Poltava, leaving two dead and seven injured. In Zaporizhzhia, regional chief Ivan Fedorov reported a large-scale combined missile and drone assault that killed one person and wounded five, damaging multiple residential and industrial structures.

Ahead of the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in his daily televised address that intelligence indicated Russia might be preparing a major offensive.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom is not involved in any attacks on Iran. He acknowledged that U.S. forces are using some British bases, but only for defensive and limited purposes. Starmer emphasized that Britain is not participating in any military operations against Iran and will not take offensive actions in the future.

Referring to the Iraq war, Starmer said that the government has learned from past mistakes and shaped its current policy accordingly. He noted that British warplanes are deployed in West Asia for defensive missions and have already helped intercept some attacks. His remarks come amid heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted Iranian counterattacks targeting American and allied bases in the region.

Starmer stressed that ensuring the safety of British citizens in West Asia remains the government’s top priority. He warned that Iran’s escalating attacks are destabilizing the region and reiterated that lasting solutions should come through dialogue rather than military force.

The United Kingdom has deployed its warship HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean to coordinate with Cyprus’s defense system following a recent drone attack. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the destroyer left the country on March 11 and will help secure a British airbase in Cyprus that was targeted by Iranian-made drones. The ministry also reported that Royal Air Force Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets conducted overnight defensive operations across the airspaces of Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.

The deployment comes amid heightened regional tensions, prompting the UK to strengthen its military presence in the area. The move underscores London’s commitment to safeguarding its strategic assets and personnel in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly after the recent drone incident.

The situation reflects broader instability in the region, with multiple countries adjusting their defense postures in response to evolving threats.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has summoned Iran’s ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, following allegations that Tehran was involved in reckless and destabilizing activities internationally. The move came after reports that an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual citizen were accused of conducting hostile surveillance on London’s Jewish community.

According to the British Foreign Office, the ambassador was called in after the two suspects, identified as 40-year-old Nematollah Shahsavani and 22-year-old Alireza Farasati, were detained earlier this month as part of an Iran-related investigation. They allegedly carried out reconnaissance operations at key sites, including Britain’s oldest synagogue.

In an official statement, the UK government said it takes threats from Iran and its affiliated groups very seriously and will not tolerate such activities. Authorities added that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure national security and protect citizens.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the government has no credible information suggesting Iran is targeting the United Kingdom. He made the remarks after questions arose about whether Britain was within range of Iranian missiles following a reported missile launch toward Diego Garcia island.

Starmer emphasized that the government continuously conducts full security assessments and currently has no evaluation indicating that the UK is being targeted. He also stressed the importance of protecting British interests and lives without becoming involved in war, calling for efforts to reduce tensions.

His comments came a day after Israel’s military claimed that Iran possesses missiles capable of reaching London, Paris, or Berlin. Iran has not yet issued any official response regarding the reported failed missile launch from its southern coast toward the Diego Garcia military base.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced allegations of concealing information after the government delayed confirming an Iranian missile attack on the Diego Garcia military base for more than 30 hours. The acknowledgment came only after US officials verified the incident. The attack occurred between Thursday night and early Friday, when Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK base in the Chagos Islands. Neither missile hit its target; one was intercepted by a US warship, and the other fell into the sea.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Labour government of maintaining a “culture of cover-up” and urged an explanation for the delay in informing the public. She argued that while genuine national security matters should remain confidential, significant events must be disclosed to Parliament and citizens. Badenoch, who succeeded Rishi Sunak as party leader in November 2024, made her remarks in an article for the Daily Mail.

A government source dismissed the criticism as a desperate move by the opposition leader, claiming she had repeatedly mishandled the crisis. The government confirmed the attack attempt on Saturday morning, more than 30 hours after it occurred.