Lammy says Middle East needs ‘diplomatic solution' after US talks
His remarks came after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, held in the wake of US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Mr Lammy also spoke with secretary of state Marco Rubio.
'Important discussion with @SecRubio this evening on the situation in the Middle East,' Mr Lammy wrote in a post on X.
Important discussion with @SecRubio this evening on the situation in the Middle East.
We will continue to work with our allies to protect our people, secure regional stability and drive forward a diplomatic solution.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 22, 2025
'We will continue to work with our allies to protect our people, secure regional stability and drive forward a diplomatic solution.'
Mr Lammy's sentiments were echoed by the UK's representative at the United Nations Dame Barbara Woodward, who urged Iran to show 'restraint' and for 'all parties' to return to the negotiating table.
'Military action alone cannot bring a durable solution to concerns about Iran's nuclear programme,' she said.
In a Monday post on Truth Social, Mr Trump claimed the US strikes caused 'monumental' damage, although US officials have said they are still assessing the situation.
'The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!' he wrote.
Over the weekend, the US attacked Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz which are linked to Iran's nuclear programme.
The Tehran regime has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but its uranium enrichment process has gone far beyond what is required for power stations.
Israeli military officials confirmed late on Sunday they had struck infrastructure sites in Tehran and in the west of Iran.
Explosions could be heard in the city of Bushehr on Sunday, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant.
Israel confirmed it had struck missile launchers in the city, as well as a command centre where missiles were being stored.
Rescue workers and security forces work at the site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv, Israel (AP/Oded Balilty)
Iranian media reported defence systems were firing in Tehran in the early hours of Monday morning, but Iran is yet to comment on the latest strikes.
On Sunday night, Downing Street said Sir Keir and Mr Trump agreed Tehran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and called for Iran to return to negotiations.
'The leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and reiterated the grave risk posed by Iran's nuclear programme to international security,' Downing Street said.
'They discussed the actions taken by the United States last night to reduce the threat and agreed that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
'They discussed the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and to make progress on a lasting settlement.
'They agreed to stay in close contact in the coming days.'
Other countries endorsed the US strikes, with Australian foreign minister Penny Wong giving the White House her full backing on Monday.
US President Donald Trump (left) and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer before speaking to the media at the G7 summit in Kananaskis (PA)
'We support action to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon and that is what this is,' she said.
In the hours after Mr Trump's phone call with Sir Keir, he again posted on Truth Social, saying: 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!'
The social media post marked a reversal from previous statements on regime change, including an earlier press conference from defence secretary Pete Hegseth, about the bombing on the three nuclear sites.
Iran is yet to confirm how much damage was done in the US-led attack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
39 minutes ago
- NBC News
Iran's parliament backs blocking Strait of Hormuz. Its closure will alienate Tehran further
Iran may be threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, but experts told CNBC that it's also the one with the most to lose. In a major move after U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites, the country's parliament on Sunday reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, risking alienating its neighbors and trade partners. The decision to close the waterway now rests with the the country's national security council, and its possibility has raised the specter of higher energy prices and aggravated geopolitical tensions, with Washington calling upon Beijing to prevent the strait's closure. Vandana Hari, founder of energy intelligence firm Vanda Insights, told CNBC's ' Squawk Box Asia ' that the possibility of closure remains 'absolutely minimalistic.' If Iran blocks the strait, the country risks turning its neighboring oil-producing countries into enemies and risks hostilities with them, she said. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed that Iran had shipped 1.5 million barrels per day via the Strait of Hormuz in the first quarter of 2025. Furthermore, a closure would also provoke Iran's market in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports. 'So very, very little to be achieved, and a lot of self-inflicted harm that Iran could do,' Hari said. Her view is supported by Andrew Bishop, senior partner and global head of policy research at advisory firm Signum Global Advisors. Iran will not want to antagonize China, he said, adding that disrupting supplies will also 'put a target' on the country's own oil production, export infrastructure, and regime 'at a time when there is little reason to doubt U.S. and Israeli resolve in being 'trigger-happy.'' Clayton Seigle, senior fellow for Energy Security and Climate Change at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that as China is 'very dependent' on oil flows from the Gulf, not just Iran, 'its national security interest really would value stabilization of the situation and a de-escalation enabling safe flows of oil and gas through the strait.' There are currently no indications of threats to commercial shipping passing through the waterway, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. 'U.S. associated vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz without interruption, which is a positive sign for the immediate future.' Impact of potential disruptions The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, and about 20% of the world's oil transits the waterway. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has described it as the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint.' 'Iran's operations in and around Hormuz are unlikely to be 'all or nothing' — but instead move along a sliding scale from total disruption to none at all,' said Signum's Bishop. 'The best strategy [for Iran] would be to rattle Hormuz oil flows just enough to hurt the U.S. via moderate upward price movement, but not enough to provoke a major U.S. response against Iran's oil production and export capacity,' he added. On Sunday, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a post on X that pump prices in the U.S. could climb to $3.35-$3.50 per gallon in the days ahead, compared with the national average of $3.139 for the week of June 16. Should Iran decide to close the strait, it would most likely use small boats for a partial blockade, or for a more complete solution, mine the waterway, according to David Roche, strategist at Quantum Strategy. In a Sunday note, S&P Global Commodity Insights wrote that any Iranian closure of the strait would affect not only Iran's own exports, but also those of nearby Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. That would potentially remove over 17 billion barrels of oil from global markets, and affect regional refineries by causing feedstock shortages, the research firm said. The disruption to supply would impact Asia and Europe as well as North America. Besides oil, natural gas flows could also be 'severely impacted,' S&P said, with Qatar's gas exports of about 77 million metric tons per year potentially unable to reach key markets in Asia and Europe. Qatar's LNG exports represent about 20% of global LNG supply. 'Alternative supply routes for Middle Eastern oil and gas are limited, with pipeline capacity insufficient to offset potential maritime disruptions through the Persian Gulf and Red Sea,' S&P added. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia pointed out that 'there is limited scope to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.' Pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have only a spare capacity of 2.6 million barrels a day between them, while the strait oversees the transport of an estimated 20 million barrels of oil and oil products per day, the bank said in a note. All these present upside risk to energy prices, with Goldman Sachs estimating that the market is pricing in a geopolitical risk premium of $12. If oil flows through the strait were to drop by 50% for one month and then were to remain down by 10% for another 11 months, Brent is forecast to 'briefly jump' to a peak of around $110, Goldman said.
ITV News
39 minutes ago
- ITV News
Foreign Secretary David Lammy urges Iran to engage in diplomacy
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Lammy said Tehran must take the 'off-ramp' following US strikes on its nuclear facilities.
South Wales Argus
43 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Lammy says he told Iran it would be a mistake to blockade Strait of Hormuz
The Foreign Secretary said it would be a 'catastrophic mistake' for Tehran to fire at US bases in the region, after an American attack on Iran's nuclear programme over the weekend. Questions are being asked about whether the shipping channel or oil exports through it could be blocked amid the tensions. Important discussion with @SecRubio this evening on the situation in the Middle East. We will continue to work with our allies to protect our people, secure regional stability and drive forward a diplomatic solution. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 22, 2025 Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, Mr Lammy said he had been 'crystal clear' that 'it would be a huge, catastrophic mistake to fire at US bases in the region at this time. We have forces in the region at this time. 'It would be a catastrophic mistake. It would be a mistake to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.' He said he thinks his counterpart 'gets that and understands that'. The UK has been pressing for Iran to engage in negotiations and diplomacy over the issues, and Mr Lammy told the same programme: 'Let's take the diplomatic off-ramp. Let's get serious and calm this thing down.' Mr Lammy is expected to address MPs in the Commons about the situation on Monday. Mr Trump launched bombing raids on Iran over the weekend (AP) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned on Sunday that there is a risk of the crisis escalating beyond the Middle East, telling reporters 'that's a risk to the region. It's a risk beyond the region, and that's why all our focus has been on de-escalating, getting people back around to negotiate what is a very real threat in relation to the nuclear programme.' Sir Keir spoke to US President Donald Trump on Sunday, and Downing Street said the leaders agreed Tehran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and called for Iran to return to negotiations. The conversation came after the air raid by American B-2 stealth bombers and a salvo of submarine-launched missiles hit Iran's nuclear facilities. 'They discussed the actions taken by the United States last night to reduce the threat and agreed that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,' Downing Street said. 'They discussed the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and to make progress on a lasting settlement.' Mr Lammy suggested on Monday that the action by Mr Trump 'may well have set back Iran several years'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the US President's rhetoric was 'strong' but that strikes had been 'targeted' to 'deal with Iran's nuclear capability'. The Foreign Secretary later added: 'Donald Trump made a decision to act to degrade that capability. It may well have set back Iran by several years. That was a decision that he took.' Mr Lammy has also spoken to his Iranian and Israeli counterparts 'to stress the need for de-escalation'. 'I urged a diplomatic, negotiated solution to end this crisis,' he said over the weekend. Overnight, Mr Trump called the future of the Iranian regime into question, posting on his TruthSocial platform: 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' It appeared to be a different approach to that of his defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who had said on Sunday that 'this mission was not and has not been about regime change'.
