David Lammy warned Iran it would be a ‘catastrophic mistake’ to strike back at US bases and said Iran must be stopped from getting its hands on a nuclear weapon
David Lammy has warned Iran it would be a “catastrophic mistake” to fire at US bases in the Middle East in revenge for strikes on its nuclear sites.
The Foreign Secretary urged Tehran to step from the brink, “get serious, and calm this thing down” after Donald Trump’s weekend bombings fanned the flames in the region. Mr Lammy said he was “crystal clear” to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, “it would be a huge catastrophic mistake to fire at US bases in the region at this time”.
The Foreign Secreary stressed that the UK played no role in the US or Israeli bombings, and repeatedly refused to be drawn on whether the US action was legal. Mr Lammy said: “I can tell you, as Foreign Secretary that we were not involved. It is for the Americans to discuss those legal issues.
“What we are involved in alongside the Americans, alongside Europe, alongside our Arab partners, is attempting to get the Iranians to take seriously our longstanding concerns about their nuclear program and their nuclear ambition.”
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Mr Lammy urged Iran against launching its own missiles or blockading the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route – a move that would send oil price soaring. He added: “We have forces in the region at this time… it would be a mistake to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, I think he gets that and understands that. But clearly the Supreme Leader is somewhere in Iran in a bunker, messaging to him cannot be easy. I would urge them to step back at this time.”
The US and Israel have struck Iranian nuclear sites amid fears the regime is enriching uranium with a view to building a weapon. Mr Lammy said there was “no credible civilian justification” for Iran to be enriching to 60%. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “Every single one of your listeners will understand that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, others will follow in the region.
“And as night follows day, we will be living in a more dangerous world. On behalf of, the planet. It is our obligation to do all we can to get that compliance, and that is why we’re engaged in intense diplomacy.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that at the Fordow site, Iran had enriched uranium to 83.7% – close to the 90% needed to make nuclear weapons.
The Foreign Secretary’s comments came just hours after the erratic US President Donald Trump floated the prospect of regime change in Tehran to “make Iran great again”. He attempted to play this down, stating: “Well, I had extensive discussion with Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio yesterday and the day before I listened to the press conference that was given by him and JD Vance.
“It’s clear that the acts on Saturday were targeted solely at the nuclear facilities. It’s clear from both Israel and the United States that they’re not going after the civilian leadership. I recognise that there’s a discussion. about regime change, but that is not what’s under consideration.
Keir Starmer meanwhile is scrambling with European allies to de-escalate the situation and get the Islamic Republic around the negotiating table. Iran reportedly warned Mr Trump that it would activate sleeper cell attacks within America if the United States launched an attack on their country.
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