UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran on April 8 saying on social media it must be turned into a lasting agreement.

He made the comments as he travels to the Middle East for talks with Arab Persian Gulf allies on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is not expected to be part of negotiations with the British.

"I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world. Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz," Starmer said.

Downing Street said Starmer would use his visit to the Arabian Peninsula to make clear the UK's commitment to de-escalation and hold talks on "practical efforts" to restore freedom of navigation in the strait.

He is also expected to meet British military personnel in the region.

British personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region, according to the Ministry of Defence, with the RAF conducting more than 1,600 hours of defensive operations since the war began on February 28.

The ceasefire triggered an immediate market rally. London's FTSE 100 jumped as much as 2.6% at the start of trading, while Brent crude fell 14.3% to $93.60 a barrel, though this remained well above the roughly $70 level before the war began. Petrol and diesel costs for UK motorists have risen sharply since the start of the conflict.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the evening of April 7.

The US State Department said, "The Secretary and Foreign Secretary agreed on the need for international efforts to ensure shipping can move freely and energy supplies can reach global markets."

Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed it had accepted the two-week ceasefire. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible "via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

However, Tehran warned that "our hands remain upon the trigger."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports Trump's decision to suspend strikes for two weeks, but said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon IntelliNews previously reported, contradicting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said it applied "everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere."

Sharif invited Iranian and US delegations to Islamabad for talks on with both Iran’s Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Vice President JD Vance expected to meet directly for the first time.

The UK has been hosting virtual talks with about 40 countries to discuss strategies for reopening the strait, with France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia and the UAE among the participants.