LONDON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that efforts must be made to de-escalate tensions surrounding Iran, warning that a prolonged conflict could have negative economic consequences, British media reported.
According to a video posted by The Guardian on social media, Starmer made the remarks while visiting a community center in London, stressing the need to ease the situation.
"We do need to find a way to de-escalate the situation in Iran," he said.
Starmer warned that a prolonged conflict could have broader economic implications. "The longer this conflict goes on, the more likely the potential for an impact on the economy," he said.
He added that the British government had taken steps over the past 18 months to strengthen the resilience of the economy to withstand possible shocks. ■