While British Foreign Minister David Lammy engages in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to alleviate the crisis in West Asia, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has contemplated the possibility of backing any US military actions against Iran should the negotiations not succeed.
Even as British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has engaged in discussions regarding support for any potential US strikes on Iran.
US President Donald Trump has provided one final opportunity for negotiations with Iran to secure a ceasefire and address the country’s nuclear program. He has suggested that he would collaborate with Israel in launching an attack on Iran if an agreement cannot be reached.
Lammy is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from France and Germany to discuss matters with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi on Friday. The day prior to this meeting, Lammy conferred with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to reports from Reuters, this meeting has been organized in coordination with the United States.
The UK maintains hopes for a diplomatic resolution while also preparing for potential military action.
The United Kingdom (UK) plays a pivotal role in the negotiations between Western nations and Iran.
Given that the UK still operates an embassy in Iran, it serves as a crucial link between Iran and the West, including the United States.
Lammy has emphasized that the ongoing discussions must lead to a resolution of the conflict.
In reference to the two-week timeframe that Trump has provided to Iran, Lammy stated, “We are resolute that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon… A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic resolution. Now is the moment to halt the dire situations in the Middle East and avert a regional escalation that would serve no one’s interests.”
Among the options that Starmer has considered are permitting the US military to utilize the British base at Diego Garcia for strikes against Iran, offering logistical assistance, and potentially joining US forces in military operations, as reported by The Times.
Starmer has alerted his Cabinet regarding the likelihood of a US attack on Iran and the potential for British involvement in such actions, according to the Financial Times.
The publication has indicated that Starmer has engaged in discussions with his ministers, military leaders, and intelligence officials, deliberating on how to react if Iran were to “directly or indirectly threaten UK assets in the region.”
“In the event that our assets are under threat, we possess the right to self-defense, regardless of American involvement. However, it is clear that in such a scenario, we would prefer to collaborate with the Americans due to their greater strength in addressing the Iranian threat,” stated an individual informed about the situation to the newspaper.
