Britain is pushing for “cool heads” and a return to diplomacy as the world waits to see whether Donald Trump will order American attacks on Iran. Downing Street insists diplomacy is the only “path to peace” and “de-escalation” is the priority.
The Government is “gravely concerned” about Iran’s nuclear programme and its threat to international security, but is urging “all parties” to show “restraint”. The comments came hours after an Israeli hospital in the town of Beersheba was hit by an Iranian missile strike. Israel’s defence minister said in the wake of the attack that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, “can no longer be allowed to exist”.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said the Conservatives would support assisting the US in potential action against Iran through the use of bases or refuelling aircraft.
On Wednesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage made it clear he wants to see the end of the Iranian regime, saying: “I think the lovely Persian people deserve better.”
But a Downing Street spokesman said: “We want to see cool heads and a return to diplomacy because that is the best route forward.”
He said the Government does “not want to see anything that ramps up the situation”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy was in Washington DC on Thursday, meeting his US counterpart, Marco Rubio.
When pressed on why the UK is not directly helping to protect Israel from Iranian attacks, the Downing Street spokesman said: “We’ve been clear Israel has a need to protect its security and people and Israel like all states has a right to self-defence but our priority [is] stability in the Middle East.”
The spokesman also stressed that the Government does not doubt the scale of the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to its neighbours and beyond.
He said: “We have been very clear that Iran’s nuclear programme has never been as advanced as it is today. It is a clear threat to international security.
“We are urging all parties to show restraint and return to diplomacy. We are clear that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon and we will use all diplomatic means available to deliver this.”
The Government is facing questions about plans to evacuate British nationals from Israel, but it insists the “safety and security of British nationals remains our priority”.
Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has said the American Embassy is “working on evacuation flights” and “cruise ship departures”.
The Downing Street spokesman insisted there is a “huge amount of work being done in the background” and it is a “fast-moving situation”.