UK Stands With Gulf Partners at Security Council: Demands End to Iranian Attacks and Reopening of Strait of Hormuz; 340,000 Displaced in Yemen
Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, told the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East on November 13 that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with its Gulf partners and will continue to provide practical support to strengthen their defences and security, demanding an end to repeated Iranian attacks throughout 2026 on civilian areas, critical infrastructure and vital economic assets, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. On the same day, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office published its information for British nationals in Trinidad and Tobago who are victims of rape and sexual assault.
MacIntosh said Resolution 2817 had sent a clear message from the Council that the attacks must stop and that navigational rights and freedoms must be respected. The Strait of Hormuz must be reopened, she said, so that international shipping and seafarers can transit safely and securely in accordance with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; disruption to vital maritime routes has consequences far beyond the region, including for global trade, energy and food security, and the most vulnerable are bearing the greatest cost. The United Kingdom condemns Iran's attacks and attempts to hold the global economy to ransom, commends the efforts of mediators including Qatar to avoid further escalation and seek a negotiated settlement that restores regional stability, and remains committed to diplomacy as the only route to a sustainable solution.
She said the actions of Iran and its proxies, including recent attacks by Iranian-aligned groups in Iraq, risk triggering a spiralling regional conflict, and that Iran must cease support for such destabilising activity. On Yemen, she said the Houthis' decision to resume conflict has brought more suffering to the Yemeni people and deepened an already grave humanitarian crisis: renewed fighting has displaced more than 340,000 people, and the Houthis' continued siege of the city of Taiz has driven food prices up by at least 50 percent and left hospitals running out of fuel and medicine. The United Kingdom called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access so that vital supplies can reach those in need throughout Yemen.
MacIntosh said the United Kingdom was appalled by news of the death of UN employee Mohammad al-Shami in Houthi detention and echoed the Secretary-General's call for an immediate and impartial investigation. The United Kingdom condemns the Houthis' continued detention of UN, humanitarian, civil society and diplomatic personnel and reiterates its call for their immediate and unconditional release. The United Kingdom also underlined its solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised Government of Yemen in the face of ongoing attacks, reaffirmed their right to defend their security and sovereignty in accordance with international law, and underlined its support for the UN's work towards a negotiated, inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political settlement, saying the Houthis must stop their offensives with immediate effect. She said the stability of the Gulf is essential for the countries and people of the region and for international peace and security.
In consular information published the same day, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advised British nationals in Trinidad and Tobago who have been raped or sexually assaulted that they can call the local emergency services on 999, or contact consular staff at the British High Commission by calling +1 868 350 0444, where staff will be empathetic and non-judgmental and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. All police stations in Trinidad and Tobago have officers trained to handle rape and sexual assault cases, known as a Special Victims Unit, working closely with the Criminal Investigation Department. The guidance also sets out the help available whether or not a victim reports the incident to the police, what to expect from medical examination and legal proceedings, and notes that such cases can take three months to one year to come to trial.
(Source: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Source: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：英国外交、联邦与发展事务部总部大楼（资料图）。CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Headquarters of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (file photo). CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
