PM warns of ‘risk of escalation’ after US bombs Iran nuclear sites

Starmer says his focus is on ‘de-escalation’Sir Keir Starmer has warned of a “threat of escalation” to the Center East and past the area, as he requires a return to the negotiating desk after the US bombed Iranian nuclear websites in a single day.The prime minister mentioned he needed to “reassure the British public that we’re doing every part we are able to to stabilise the scenario” and discover a diplomatic answer after the US bombed three websites.He added the federal government had “taken all crucial measures” to guard UK pursuits within the area however his focus was on de-escalation.Sir Keir mentioned there was no UK involvement within the US motion however he was informed about it prematurely.The PM chaired an emergency Cobra response assembly on Sunday afternoon and held calls with world leaders, together with France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz.The trio subsequently urged Iran “to not take any additional motion that might destabilise the area”. “We’ll proceed our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and make sure the battle doesn’t intensify and unfold additional,” they mentioned in a joint assertion.On Sunday night, International Secretary David Lammy mentioned he had spoken with counterparts in Iran and Israel, saying in a submit on X: “I urged a diplomatic, negotiated answer to finish this disaster.”The US mentioned it had carried out strikes on three nuclear services in Iran – Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo – on Saturday night time.US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned the strikes “devastated the Iranian nuclear programme”.Iran’s overseas minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi referred to as the US strikes “outrageous” and mentioned they might have “eternal penalties”.Talking at his Chequers nation retreat, Sir Keir mentioned escalation was a threat to the Center East and “past the area”.He added “that is why all our focus has been on de-escalating, getting individuals again round to barter what’s a really actual menace in relation to the nuclear programme”.He mentioned the UK had been “clear Iran can not have a nuclear weapon”, including stability within the area was the precedence.Enterprise Secretary Jonathan Reynolds informed the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that Iran “is a menace to this nation, not in an summary means, not in a speculative means”.He burdened there was “merely no means a accountable British authorities would ever permit [Iran] to own nuclear weapons”.Final October, the top of MI5 mentioned the intelligence service had responded to twenty plots backed by Iran within the UK since 2022, posing “probably deadly threats to British residents and UK residents”.Ken McCallum mentioned on the time there had been “plot after plot right here within the UK, at an unprecedented tempo and scale”. Reynolds stopped in need of welcoming the US strikes, saying he “needed a distinct approach to get hold of this however I can not fake to you that prevention of Iran having a nuclear weapon is something aside from within the pursuits of the UK”.Though the UK had “needed” a peaceable de-escalation of tensions, Reynolds added: “Iran did not hearken to the diplomatic requires a peaceable answer. That was a mistake.”The prime minister mentioned the UK had been “transferring property to the area to verify we’re able to guard our personal pursuits, our personnel and our property, and, in fact, these of our allies.”A UK defence supply mentioned British army personnel within the Center East have been now on their highest degree of alert.Solely per week in the past, Sir Keir met US President Donald Trump on the G7 summit in Canada, the place he pushed for de-escalation, and had beforehand mentioned there was “nothing” from the president to counsel he was about to become involved within the battle.Iran has claimed its nuclear ambitions are peaceable and up to date uranium enrichment to 60% was finished as a part of a analysis and improvement programme.Nonetheless, the Worldwide Atomic Power Company’s (IAEA) newest report warned that Iran had amassed sufficient enriched uranium to probably make 9 nuclear bombs, which was “a supply of official concern”.Requested why Iran wanted uranium enriched to close weapons-grade, Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, informed the BBC: “There is no intention from our aspect to enter a army assault”.He added Iran is contemplating the “amount and high quality” of its response to the US motion.Israeli President Isaac Herzog informed Kuenssberg that Iran’s nuclear programme had been hit “considerably” however added that he didn’t but know the precise particulars of what occurred as he didn’t know prematurely and was “woken up when it occurred”.Israel has been concentrating on army websites in Iran in latest days, with Iran returning fireplace.On Saturday, B-2 stealth bombers flew continuous from a US airbase in Missouri to Iran to hold out the strikes.The UK-US airbase on Diego Garcia, one of many Chagos Islands, was not used.In a televised deal with following the strikes, Trump mentioned the US’s in a single day operation was a “spectacular army success”, including that if Iran didn’t make peace rapidly it will face “far higher” assaults.No improve in off-site radiation has been reported, in accordance with the UN’s IAEA newest replace.UN Secretary Basic António Guterres mentioned the in a single day strikes have been a “harmful escalation”.Reacting to the US motion, Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch, mentioned: “By concentrating on Iran’s nuclear websites, the US has taken decisive motion in opposition to a regime that fuels world terror and instantly threatens the UK.”Liberal Democrat chief Ed Davey mentioned it was now “important” for the UK to “de-escalate the battle and obtain that diplomatic answer”.Starmer has beforehand urged additional negotiations in a bid to de-escalate the battle.International Secretary Lammy travelled to Washington final week to satisfy Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, and likewise fashioned a part of a European contingent which met Iranian officers in Geneva on Friday.The International, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (FCDO) has suggested in opposition to all journey to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Iran.It has organised a chartered flight from Tel Aviv for British nationals who wish to go away Israel.The FCDO mentioned the flight can be for “weak British nationals and their dependents”, which it hopes will have the ability to take off subsequent week if Israeli airspace is re-opened, however “that might change at brief discover”.On Sunday, British Airways introduced it was pausing flights to Dubai within the United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar in mild of the scenario.In a press release, a spokesperson mentioned the airway’s flight schedule had been adjusted “to make sure the protection of our clients and crew”, including clients had been contacted and suggested of their journey choices.It’s understood all flights to the airports scheduled to go away London Heathrow on Saturday, and their subsequent return flights, have been cancelled.These attributable to journey up till Tuesday are in a position to rebook freed from cost onto a later flight as much as and together with 6 July.