Starmer calls for a return to diplomacy in Iran-Israel war

PM urges Trump to show restraint and not conduct airstrikes

- ARCHIE MITCHELL, ALEX CROFT, SAM KILEY

Sir Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to step back from the brink of a direct strike on Iran, warning against any action that would "ramp up the situation".

The prime minister said "de-escalation" was the priority and called for a diplomatic solution to be found after the US president suggested he may join Israel's bombing campaign.

The White House said yesterday that Mr Trump will decide on whether the US will get involved in the conflict in the next two weeks. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, citing a message from the president: "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks."

There were no signs of the Middle East crisis easing yesterday, after an Iranian missile strike hit a hospital in southern Israel and multiple buildings near Tel Aviv. The war of words has also intensified, with defence minister Israel Katz branding Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "the modern-day Hitler" following the attacks that injured at least 240 people, according to local authorities.

Sir Keir 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. Obviously all of us, the UK included, are very concerned about the nuclear programme that Iran is developing, we've long been concerned about that. Also, [we] completely recognise Israel's right to self-defence, but the principle is that we need to de-escalate this.