UK's Starmer warns of ‘real risk' to region as Trump mulls bombing Iran
PA Media/dpa
London
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged US President Donald Trump to step back from military action against Iran, which could deepen the crisis in the Middle East.
The prime minister said there is a 'real risk of escalation' in the conflict as he urged all sides to seek a diplomatic outcome. He said there had previously been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'.
His comments came as British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is taking the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he will meet Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio.
Lammy and US Secretary of State Rubio were to discuss the situation in the Middle East on Thursday evening.
Iran and Israel continued striking each other's territory overnight as the crisis deepens.
A hospital in southern Israel was hit by a missile, while a heavy water facility in Iran was targeted in the latest blow against Tehran's nuclear programme.
The hospital attack led Defence Minister Israel Katz to say Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'absolutely should not continue to exist' - in a sign that plans to kill him could be revived after previously being vetoed by Trump.
Lammy's meeting in Washington 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 Fordow.
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