US top diplomat Rubio discussed Israel-Iran war with key partners, World News
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met British foreign minister David Lammy on Thursday (June 19) and held separate calls with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to discuss the war between US ally Israel and its regional rival Iran. Key quotes
The US State Department said that Rubio and the foreign ministers agreed that "Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon."
Lammy said the same on X while adding that the situation in the Middle East "remained perilous" and a "window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution." Why it's important
The air war between Iran and Israel — which began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran — has raised alarms in a region that was already on edge since the start of Israel's military assault on Gaza in October 2023.
President Donald Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether the US will get involved in the war, the White House said on Thursday. Trump has kept the world guessing on his plans, veering from proposing a swift diplomatic solution to suggesting Washington might join the fighting on Israel's side.
The White House said late on Thursday that Trump will take part in a national security meeting on Friday morning. Context
Israel, which is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it struck Iran to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is peaceful, has retaliated with its own strikes on Israel.
Iran is a party to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while Israel is not.
Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, the Human Rights Activists News Agency says. Israel says at least two dozen Israeli civilians have died in Iranian attacks.
The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union were due to meet in Geneva with Iran's foreign minister on Friday to try to de-escalate the conflict.
[[nid:719305]]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Spain's commitment to Nato ‘total', says defence minister, after PM seeks exemption
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said her country was "a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally". PHOTO: AFP Spain's commitment to Nato 'total', says defence minister, after PM seeks exemption MADRID - Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on June 20 her country is totally committed to Nato, a day after Madrid asked the alliance to be exempted from the proposed increase in the defence spending target to 5 per cent of gross domestic product. 'Spain and its armed forces are a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally that is absolutely committed to the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance,' Ms Robles said in Madrid. 'No one can call it into question.' Her comments came following a letter by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Nato chief Mark Rutte on June 19 that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the 5 per cent target. In his letter, Mr Sanchez requested a 'more flexible formula' that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance in 2024, according to Nato estimates. Mr Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet Nato's current target of 2 per cent this year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe
Dutch soldiers work on vessel, off the coast of the Hague as Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolls in the background, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows a military vessel patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows military speedboat and Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A Dutch soldier with shoulder sleeve insigna of the upcoming 2025 NATO summit works in the control centre of Dutch frigate 'Tromp', Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands has launched operation Orange Shield to protect next week's NATO summit, deploying combat helicopters, sea patrols, over 10,000 military and police personnel, bomb squads and air defence systems. About 6,000 delegates and leaders from 32 countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the closed-off event at The Hague's World Forum. The Dutch navy will deploy seven frigates as part of the country's largest security operation. "The aim is to observe everything that's happening in the area, at sea, and in the air," commander of the Tromp frigate Dennis Oorburg told Reuters. Dutch counterterrorism chief Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg told Dutch broadcaster NOS that cybersecurity risks were also being closely monitored. Heads of state and ministers from NATO countries will arrive at Schiphol Airport on Monday and be escorted to The Hague via a secure highway corridor. On Tuesday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander will host a state dinner for NATO leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is set not to attend the summit, has also been invited to the dinner but has not yet confirmed his attendance. The summit officially begins on Wednesday, with NATO boss Mark Rutte aiming to get consensus from leaders on a 5% defence spending target, demanded by Trump. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has opposed the higher target. Protests are expected around the summit, including a planned highway blockade by Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and demonstrations against the war in Gaza and LGBTI+ hate speech. Police say protests will be allowed "within the limits of the law". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Britain to withdraw staff from embassy in Iran as ‘precautionary measure'
The British embassy in charge of Iran will continue to operate remotely. PHOTO: REUTERS Britain to withdraw staff from embassy in Iran as 'precautionary measure' LONDON – Britain said on June 20 it was temporarily withdrawing staff from its embassy in Iran due to the ongoing security situation there. 'We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,' Britain said on its travel advice website page for Iran. Israel and Iran have been in conflict since last week after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, which retaliated with waves of missiles. British Foreign Minister David Lammy has been urging the two sides to find a diplomatic solution and is in Geneva on June 20 for nuclear talks with Iran and European counterparts. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
