Fact Check: Keir Starmer held a series of calls with world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program on October 2023.

Fact Check: Keir Starmer's Calls with World Leaders After Israel's Attack on Iran

What We Know

The claim states that Keir Starmer held a series of calls with world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program in October 2023.

According to reports, Starmer did indeed speak with Netanyahu on October 13, 2023, urging for de-escalation and expressing the UK's "grave concerns" about Iran's nuclear program (BBC). In addition to Netanyahu, Starmer also communicated with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions and restraint (BBC, Scotsman).

However, the claim that Starmer spoke with US President Donald Trump is misleading. While there was a diplomatic flurry involving various leaders, the specific mention of a call between Starmer and Trump is not substantiated in the reports. Instead, it was noted that Starmer and Trump called for diplomacy and dialogue, but the details of a direct conversation were not confirmed (Politico, Standard).

Analysis

The evidence indicates that Starmer did engage in discussions with several world leaders, including Netanyahu, to address the escalating tensions following Israel's military actions against Iran. The reports from credible sources like the BBC and Politico confirm that Starmer's focus was on urging restraint and diplomatic engagement (BBC, Politico).

However, the assertion that he held a call with Donald Trump is not supported by direct evidence. While both leaders may have expressed similar sentiments regarding the need for diplomacy, the lack of a confirmed conversation diminishes the accuracy of the claim. The sources that mention Trump do not provide details of a direct call, which raises questions about the reliability of that part of the claim (Standard, Bloomberg).

In evaluating the credibility of the sources, the BBC and Politico are recognized as reputable news organizations with a history of accurate reporting. The Scotsman and Bloomberg also provide reliable information, but the absence of direct quotes or confirmations regarding a call with Trump weakens that aspect of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that Keir Starmer held a series of calls with world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program is False. While Starmer did communicate with Netanyahu and other European leaders, there is no verified evidence of a direct conversation with Trump. The assertion lacks substantiation and misrepresents the nature of the diplomatic engagements that took place.

Sources

1. Starmer urges Netanyahu to use diplomacy in Iran
2. New British leader vows his nation will reengage on global leadership
3. Starmer tells Netanyahu Israel and Iran must pull back from the brink
4. 'Deeply alarming': World leaders urge restraint as Israel pummels Iran
5. Starmer and Trump call for 'diplomacy and dialogue' in Israel and Iran
6. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Urges Israel-Iran De-escalation
7. World leaders call for restraint, de-escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran