Rishi Sunak wants this weekend’s attempt by Iran to attack Israel to mark a de-escalation in the region. He told MPs this afternoon that he would be speaking to Benjamin Netanyahu later today and that he would be discussing how to prevent further escalation, saying: ‘All sides must show restraint.’ This was not a surprise, given Lord Cameron’s language this morning about the need for Israel to ‘take the win’.

Instead, what was more striking was that MPs did not, as had been suggested by some, spend that much time in this statement complaining about British involvement in foiling the attack. Sunak suggested once again that this was an extension of the RAF’s campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He also insisted that Iran posed a threat to the UK, as well as to Israel, saying: ‘The behaviour of the Iranian regime as I have said previously, including the actions of the IRGC, poses a significant threat to the safety and security of the UK and our allies.’

Instead, the main point of pressure that came from across the House was on whether the UK government would proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. MPs have been asking about this for months, and the answer today was the same they have heard repeatedly, which is that the government never discusses organisations which might be proscribed, but that the threat of Iran was being taken very seriously.

Keir Starmer took a supportive stance, backing Sunak’s call for restraint – and also asking about the IRGC. ‘There can be no doubt that the attack perpetrated by Iranian forces this weekend has left the world a more dangerous place’, he said. The Labour leader also called the combined defensive action a ‘success’ and said ‘escalation is not inevitable’. Israel needed to ‘show strength and courage’ now to de-escalate. The one point of difference was that Starmer made very clear that diplomatic premises must not be attacked – a reference to the attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus. Other than that, the pressure on Israel is clear from both sides: now is the time to show restraint against Iran, not rise to the bait.