Starmer and Trump fail to agree on need for 'de-escalation' in standoff with Iran after US attack on nuclear sites… as president backs 'regime change'
Keir Starmer is engaged in frantic diplomacy over the Iran crisis today as Donald Trump sounds an increasingly strident message.
The PM and president spoke last night after the US strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites. But Downing Street 's readout notably did not include any reference to the 'de-escalation' Sir Keir has been urging in other statements.
Instead No10 said the leaders agreed Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and should return to negotiations.
Soon after the call Mr Trump took to social media apparently endorsing regime change - swiping that it could be time to 'Make Iran Great Again'.
The stance raises fresh questions about Sir Keir's influence and the health of the Special Relationship. After meeting Mr Trump in person at the G7 in Canada last week, the premier had insisted he did not believe the US would go ahead with the attacks.
America did not ask to use the Diego Garcia base for the bombing raid, amid speculation that Attorney General Lord Hermer had advised UK participation would be illegal.
Ministers again refused to say explicitly this morning whether Britain supported the action taken by the US. Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly dodged on whether the bombing was the 'right thing to do'.
In a readout of the call after B-2 stealth bombers and a salvo of submarine-launched missiles hit Iran's nuclear facilities, Downing Street said: 'The leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and reiterated the grave risk posed by Iran's nuclear programme to international security.
'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.'
Earlier, Sir Keir said there was a 'risk of escalation'.
'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,' he said.
There are fears British forces could be dragged into the conflict if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei orders a retaliation.
Speaking to reporters at his Chequers country retreat, Sir Keir would not be drawn on whether Nato's mutual defence pact would apply if US forces were targeted.
The PM said 'we have taken all necessary measures to protect UK interests, UK personnel and to work with our allies to protect their interests as well'.
Extra RAF Typhoon jets have already been moved to the region and Defence Secretary John Healey said 'force protection is at its highest level' following the US strikes.
On a day of intense diplomatic activity, Sir Keir also held calls with the Sultan of Oman, the King of Jordan, Canada's Mark Carney and European counterparts Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz.
Ministers from the E3 – the UK, France and Germany – had been involved in talks with Iran as recently as Friday as European allies sought to avoid further escalation in the Middle East.
In a joint statement with the French president and German chancellor, Sir Keir said: 'We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region.'
Mr Lammy spoke 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.
The Foreign Office dismissed as 'inaccurate' a report by Iran's IRNA news agency that Mr Lammy 'expressed regret' over the US strikes.
Mr Lammy also spoke to US secretary of state Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Egypt and Cyprus.
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.
Former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts highlighted that Sir Keir had not endorsed the 'means' used by the US
Asked during a round of interviews this morning whether Britain endorsed the military action taken over the weekend, defence minister Luke Pollard told Times Radio: 'That was a decision that the US has taken. Our focus has been on the diplomatic effort that is necessary to get a lasting peace.
'That's why that's been the focus of the Prime Minister's actions over the last few days, it's why the Defence Secretary, myself, the Foreign Secretary and the minister for the Middle East have been engaging in diplomatic activity in the region, because we need to make sure that there is a route to a lasting peace here.
'The way to do that is with a diplomatic solution that brings Iran back to the negotiating table.'
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