Latest news with #DavidLammy
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
Donald Trump has delayed a decision on whether to join Israeli attacks on Iran as Sir Keir Starmer continues to urge restraint in the Middle East. The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
At the heart of the Arctic, the 'Noah's Ark for plants' welcomes new seeds
The concrete triangle stands out against the snow-covered landscape. The mountain's silence is broken only by the comings and goings of tourists, who step out of their bus or taxi for a few minutes to photograph the mysterious structure. The small building, barely wider than its armored door, is neither a work of brutalist art nor a Hollywood movie set. It is the entrance to the global agricultural seed vault – the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – built in Norway's Arctic archipelago, 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole. Often dubbed the "Noah's Ark for plants," it preserves millions of seeds in case of catastrophe. "This place is one of the most important in the world," said Espen Barth Eide, Norway's foreign affairs minister. "If things go wrong, due to war, climate change, or a nuclear explosion, countries can come and retrieve their seeds and start from scratch." At the end of May, the Norwegian politician and his British counterpart, David Lammy, came to deposit two precious sealed boxes containing, inside aluminum envelopes, seeds of peas, carrots, lettuce and cabbage. From June 3 to 6, fourteen other countries also brought 11,000 samples: from Korean azuki beans to American rutabagas, Beninese fonio to Vietnamese rice. They were transported directly from Longyearbyen airport – the main city of Svalbard – which sits below the world reserve. The vault opens only three times a year. The rest of the time, the building remains closed, leaving the seeds in the polar cold and solitude.
ITV News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
If the US strikes Iran could the UK be involved, and would MPs need to approve it?
The conflict between Iran and Israel has entered its seventh day as the two countries continue to strike each other's territory, suffering casualties on both sides. The UK has maintained its position that a diplomatic solution would be best for the region and the UK's interests. On Thursday, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy flew to the US to meet his counterpart Marco Rubio to discuss the deteriorating situation. His meeting in Washington comes amid speculation that US involvement could require the use of the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. Concerns have also been raised by MPs fearful of being dragged into the conflict about what legal scrutiny will be afforded to any decision increasing the UK's involvement. So does the UK have a clear position, or is it simply waiting for the US to move before then doing a little bit less? What has the UK said so far? The government has so far stressed that a diplomatic solution in the region is the best option for all parties involved. On Thursday, the , which could deepen the crisis in the Middle East. Sir Keir Starmer said: "The situation in relation to Israel-Iran is obviously fast moving and in those circumstances, it's really important to cling on to the key principles here. "I've been absolutely clear we need to de-escalate this. Yes, the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with by way of negotiations than by way of conflict." Addressing MPs on Monday, the foreign secretary said: "Our message to both Israel and Iran is clear. Step back, show restraint, don't get pulled ever deeper into a catastrophic conflict whose consequences nobody can control. "Further escalation in the Middle East is not in Britain's interests, nor the interests of Israel, Iran or the region. "There are hundreds of thousands of British nationals living in the region and with Iran a major oil producer and one fifth of the total world's oil consumption flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating conflict poses real risks for the global economy." The Foreign Office has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel, but has yet to do the same for British nationals, asking them to instead register their presence to receive regular updates. This decision has been criticised by the opposition, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel describing the response as "insufficient." Speaking on Thursday, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'There's a huge amount of work being done in the background on contingency planning. It is a fast-moving situation and we keep all our advice and planning under constant review." What is the legal position, and will parliament get a say? The UK's Attorney General, Lord Hermer, is reported to have raised legal concerns about any potential involvement from British forces beyond defending its allies. Governments do not usually disclose legal advice from UK attorney generals; however, the Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said the UK cannot 'hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis." Reassuring MPs on Thursday, Commons Leader Lucy Powell said sustained military action involving British troops 'will of course be a matter for the House to consider." Concerns over parliamentary involvement had been raised by Green Party Co-Leader Adrian Ramsay, who sought assurances MPs would be given a "debate and a free vote" in the event of further military involvement. Echoing calls for transparency and consultation, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the government should publish Lord Hermer's advice, adding: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' What could this look like, and why are the Chagos Islands involved? The UK has already repositioned troops to the region. Speaking on Thursday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed this decision. "We have moved assets into the region, including Typhoon jets, but we do have bases, we do have personnel in the region," she said. 'As a government, of course, we always want to protect our interests, and so that's why we've made those decisions to move those assets there, in the case of them being needed.' Outside of these precautions, it is thought that if the US were to engage militarily, such a move would require the use of the UK's Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands. This is because America's B-2 stealth bombers, the only aircraft capable of carrying specialised "bunker buster" bombs needed to strike Iran's underground nuclear facility, are currently stationed there. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, a Number 10 spokesperson refused to confirm whether the UK would block this or not. " We continue to liaise with international partners," he said. Will he, won't he? What has Trump said? The US President has issued a series of statements on social media, seemingly upping the rhetoric in this Middle Eastern conflict. Last Friday, he claimed to have given Iran a "60-day ultimatum" to "make a deal", warning them "it would be much worse than anything they know" if they failed to do so. "Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse... Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left," he added. He has since called for Iran's "unconditional surrender", described their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as an "easy target" and told reporters he didn't want a ceasefire but a "real end" to the fighting as he threatened to give up on the region entirely. Having left Canada's G7 summit early after signing a joint statement calling for peace, all eyes have been on the president waiting to see what he'll do. On Wednesday, he appeared to enjoy this uncertainty as he joked on the White House lawn: "Nobody knows what I'm going to do." Israel has maintained it is acting to disable Iran's nuclear capabilities, but to complete this objective, it is likely to need military support and equipment that only Trump can provide. Asked what he had to say to the defiant leader of Iran, Trump said only: "I say good luck."
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer urges Trump to step back from the brink of Middle East war
Downing Street is urging Donald Trump to exercise restraint and avoid a direct strike on Iran, emphasizing the need for de-escalation. Sir Keir Starmer and his spokesman have stressed that de-escalation is the priority, warning of a real risk of escalation in the Middle East. The UK government is actively trying to persuade the US against launching a strike on Iran, with David Lammy set to discuss the situation with Marco Rubio in Washington. The potential US involvement follows days of exchange of fire between Israel and Iran, with Israel stating its strikes aim to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Concerns remain about Iran's nuclear program, which the UK considers a clear threat to international peace and security, but diplomacy is advocated over conflict.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Europe and Iran will try diplomacy as US weighs joining fight with Israel
Iran's foreign minister will meet counterparts from Germany, France and the UK in Geneva on Friday, Iranian state media and European diplomats have said. The news comes as Israeli airstrikes target Iran's nuclear and military sites, and Iranfires back. Europe's push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with US President Donald Trump openly weighing bombing Iran and calling for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian leadership. All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to Geneva for the meetings on Friday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the meetings. 'All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy,' a joint statement issued on Wednesday by France, Germany, the UK and the EU read. The three European countries, commonly referred to as the E3, played an important role in the negotiations over the original 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. But they have repeatedly threatened to reinstate sanctions that were lifted under the deal if Iran does not improve its co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog. The meeting in Geneva could also provide the three European nations with a unique opportunity to reach out to Iran in what is going to be the first face-to-face meeting between Western officials and Tehran since the start of the conflict a week ago. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is meeting US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington on Thursday (Jonathan Brady/PA) UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is flying to Washington on Thursday to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US may want to use the UK-controlled base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in a potential strike on Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo, but is not believed to have requested to do so yet. 'The EU will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be through a negotiated deal,' Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission, said. 'This is why, an intense outreach activity involving all relevant sides is currently underway to preserve room for diplomacy and create the conditions for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.' Germany's foreign minister has underlined European countries' willingness to talk to Iran about a solution to its nuclear programme, but says there needs to be movement from Tehran. Iran must now move urgently. Iran must take confidence-building and verifiable measures – for example, in that the leadership in Tehran makes it credible that it is not striving for a nuclear weapon Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday that the three European countries, which were part of Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement, 'still stand ready to negotiate on a solution'. But he added: 'Iran must now move urgently. Iran must take confidence-building and verifiable measures – for example, in that the leadership in Tehran makes it credible that it is not striving for a nuclear weapon.' French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday that France and European partners were ready to 'resume negotiations' with Iran. Mr Barrot did not confirm the Geneva meeting. The Iranian authorities' message was 'relatively clear: there is a willingness to resume talks, including with the United States, provided that a ceasefire can be reached', Mr Barrot said in a news conference in Paris. US President Donald Trump has given increasingly pointed warnings about America joining Israel in striking at Tehran's nuclear programme (Alex Brandon/AP) 'On our side, there is a willingness to resume negotiations, provided that these negotiations can lead to lasting, substantial steps backward by Iran regarding its nuclear programme, its ballistic programme and its activities to destabilise the region,' Mr Barrot said. Mr Trump has given increasingly pointed warnings about the US joining Israel in striking at Tehran's nuclear programme even as Iran's leader warned anew that the United States would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it attacks. A US official said on Wednesday there were no plans for US involvement in nuclear talks set between senior European diplomats and Iran in Geneva, although that could change. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also noted that the Europeans have been wanting to play a role in the negotiations for months but have been held back by the US. That position, the official said, may be changing as the hostilities intensify.
