London [UK], June 13 (ANI): UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged 'all parties to step back' and reduce tensions urgently after Israel carried out strikes on Iran, what it called a 'pre-emptive operation' targeting the latter's nuclear program.

Starmer called the reports of these strikes 'concerning ' and emphasised that stability in the Middle East must be a priority.

In a post on X, Starmer stated, 'The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.'

https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1933401302442111457

Starmer's statement comes after Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran on Friday, according to Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz, The Times of Israel reported. Katz declared an emergency situation across the country due to Israel's action in Iran.

'Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,' The Times of Israel quoted Katz as saying.

Katz said that he signed 'a special order, according to which a special state of emergency will be imposed in the home front throughout the entire State of Israel.' 'You must obey the instructions of the Home Front Command and the authorities and remain in the protected areas,' Katz added, as per The Times of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a large-scale military campaign, Operation Rising Lion, aimed at dismantling what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Netanyahu said Israel had struck multiple high-value Iranian targets in a decisive first strike. 'Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival,' he said, adding that the mission would continue 'for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.'

The Israeli leader accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme in defiance of global warnings, pointing to enriched uranium stockpiles capable of producing multiple nuclear bombs. 'In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs. Nine,' he noted, warning that Tehran had taken 'steps to weaponise this enriched uranium' and could develop a nuclear weapon within months.

Netanyahu likened the current moment to the prelude to World War II, referencing the Holocaust and past global inaction in the face of rising threats. 'Eighty years ago, the Jewish people were the victims of a holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime,' he said.

Reaffirming Israel's red lines, Netanyahu declared: 'Now, as Prime Minister, I've made it clear time and again. Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal. Tonight, Israel backs those words with action.'

He elaborated on the targets, stating, 'We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme. We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponization programme. We targeted Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile programme.'

He cited growing threats from Iran's missile development as a catalyst for action. 'Last year, Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel. Each of these missiles carries a tonne of explosives and threatens the lives of hundreds of people. Soon, those missiles could carry a nuclear payload, threatening the lives not of hundreds, but of millions. Iran is gearing up to produce 10,000 of those ballistic missiles within three years. Now just imagine 10,000 tonnes of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey. This is an intolerable threat. It must be stopped.'

Netanyahu said Iran's 'new plan to destroy Israel' involved surrounding the country with regional proxies and launching direct attacks, including the October 7th incident. 'But the people of Israel, the soldiers of Israel rose like lions to defend our country. We crushed Hamas. We devastated Hezbollah. We hit Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. And when Iran directly attacked us twice last year, we struck back inside Iran itself. Yet in defending ourselves, we also defend others.' (ANI)