British FM says ‘window now exists' for diplomacy with Iran
On the eve of European talks with Iran over its nuclear program, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Thursday after meeting high-level US officials that there is still time to reach a diplomatic solution with Tehran.
Lammy met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House, before talks on Friday in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alongside his French, German and EU counterparts.
The diplomatic flurry came as European countries call for de-escalation in the face of Israel's bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear program – and as US President Donald Trump weighs up whether or not to join the strikes against Tehran.
'The situation in the Middle East remains perilous,' Lammy said in a statement released by the UK embassy in Washington.
'We discussed how Iran must make a deal to avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,' Lammy said.
'Tomorrow, I will be heading to Geneva to meet with the Iranian foreign minister alongside my French, German and EU counterparts,' the British minister said.
'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.'
The State Department said Lammy and Rubio had 'agreed Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.'
Araghchi earlier confirmed he would 'meet with the European delegation in Geneva on Friday,' in a statement carried by Iranian state news agency IRNA.
The talks are set to include Lammy, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, as well as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Trump has said he is weighing military action against Iran's nuclear facilities as Israel pummels the country and Tehran responds with missile fire.
France, Germany, Britain and the European Union were all signatories of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which Trump sank during his first term in office.
The EU's Kallas, in coordination with European countries, has insisted that diplomacy remains the best path toward ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said European nations were planning to suggest a negotiated solution to end the Iran–Israel conflict. He asked his foreign minister to draw up an initiative with 'close partners' to that end.
Barrot has been in regular touch with his German and British counterparts since Israel launched massive air strikes against Iran on Friday.
'We are ready to take part in negotiations aimed at obtaining from Iran a lasting rollback of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,' Barrot said.
Israel says its air campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent – far above the 3.67 percent limit set by a 2015 deal with international powers, but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran denies it is building nuclear weapons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Argaam
15 minutes ago
- Argaam
Oil prices drop 2%, head for weekly gains
Oil prices were mixed on Friday, after the White House delayed a decision on potential US intervention in the Iran-Israel conflict. Despite the volatility, the prices are on track for weekly gains. Brent crude futures for August delivery fell by 2.1%, or $1.65, to $77.20 a barrel at 8:10 AM Makkah time. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for August—the most actively traded contract—rose 0.65%, or 47 cents, to $73.97 a barrel. This came after a White House statement saying President Donald Trump would decide within the next two weeks whether the US will intervene in the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Reuters. Chinese customs data released today showed fuel oil imports reached 1.30 million tons in May, equivalent to about 267,000 barrels per day—down 29% from April and 40% lower than the same period last year.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Katz Warns Hezbollah Against Joining Conflict with Iran
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon's Hezbollah to exercise caution on Friday, saying Israel's patience with "terrorists" who threaten it had worn thin. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Thursday that the Lebanese group would act as it saw fit in the face of what he called "brutal Israeli-American aggression" against Iran. In other statements, the group has made no explicit pledge to join the fighting. But it has condemned Israel's surprise strikes on Iran that sparked the conflict and endorsed Iran's missile barrages over Israel. "I suggest the Lebanese proxy be cautious and understand that Israel has lost patience with terrorists who threaten it,' Katz said in a statement on Friday, adding that "if there is terrorism -- there will be no Hezbollah." Qassem 'is not learning a lesson from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel in accordance with the Iranian dictator's orders,' Katz stated. He said on Thursday that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, 'cannot continue to exist.'
Arab News
30 minutes ago
- Arab News
Gaza rescuers say 43 killed by Israeli forces
GAZA CITY: Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed at least 43 people on Friday, including 26 who had gathered near an aid distribution center, the latest in a string of deadly incidents targeting aid seekers in the Palestinian territory. 'Forty-three martyrs have fallen as a result of the ongoing Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip since dawn today, 26 of whom were waiting for humanitarian aid,' Mohammad Al-Mughayyir, director of medical supply at the civil defense agency in Gaza, told AFP.
