Iran-Israel attack latest: Tehran to be hit with new sanctions as Cameron lands for Netanyahu meeting

More can and should be done to sanction Iran following its attack on Israel, David Cameron has said.

Speaking during a trip to Israel, Britain’s foreign secretary told broadcasters: “We want to see coordinated sanctions against Iran.

“Britain has in many ways led the way with our new sanctions regime, sanctioning dozens of people in Iran, sanctioning the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in its entirety, and I think there is more that we can do to show a united front, that Iran is behind so much of the malign activity in this region, backing Hamas, backing Hezbollah, backing the Houthis.

“They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen at the weekend.”

British foreign minister David Cameron has said it is clear Israel has decided to respond to the Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack – and urged this to be carried out in a way that minimises escalation.

“It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,” Lord Cameron told reporters after landing in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough.

“But the real need is to refocus back on Hamas, back on the hostages, back on getting the aid in, back on getting a pause in the conflict in Gaza.”

Britain wants to see coordinated sanctions against Iran, he said, adding: “They need to be given a clear unequivocal message by the G7.”

Italy’s foreign minister has urged Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, reiterating that it is time for a ceasefire.

Italy initially backed Israel’s actions in the wake of Hamas’s attack on its southern territories on 7 October, but has since softened its support in the light of the thousands of civilian deaths.

In an interview with La Stampa newspaper, Antonio Tajani stressed that the war in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas’s “barbaric” assault, but added: “However, now a cease-fire is necessary. Israel must stop the military operations that have massively affected the Palestinian population.”

The interview was conducted ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, which will be hosted by Tajani on the Italian island of Capri. Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G7.

Lord David Cameron has arrived in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior figures following Iran’s attack.

Britain’s foreign secretary is expected to discuss their response to the drone and missile barrage launched by Tehran on Saturday night, having urged restraint, with Rishi Sunak delivering that message to Mr Netanyahu in a phone call on Tuesday, saying this was “a moment for calm heads to prevail”.

Lord Cameron has also urged Tel Aviv to be “smart as well as tough” by not escalating the conflict with Iran, and has recently spoken with his counterparts in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates as part of efforts to reduce tensions in the region.

He is also expected to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza during his trip, and visit the West Bank.

The UK joined allies in defending Israel when Iran launched about 350 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, with British jets shooting down a number of drones.

Escalation of conflict in the Middle East risks pushing up food and energy prices across the world, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF said the global economy has had an “eventful” journey in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran did not appear to have any issues with Israel. But, on assuming power, supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini arbitrarily declared it to be an enemy and set about uniting the religious, political and military powers to his view, writers a reader in letter to our editor.

Israel is vowing to retaliate against Iran, risking further expanding the shadow war between the two foes into a direct conflict after an Iranian attack over the weekend sent hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel.

Israeli officials have not said how or when they might strike. But as countries around the world urge Israel to show restraint and the threat of a multi-front war mounts, it’s clear that a direct Israeli attack on Iranian soil would lead to major fallout.

Iran says it carried out the strike to avenge an Israeli airstrike that killed two Iranian generals in Syria on 1 April. It has pledged a much tougher response to any Israeli counterattack attack on its soil.

Israel’s war cabinet has spent the last two days debating their next move. Here are some considerations key to their decision.