Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a good thing for Britain, Downing Street said, as it declined to comment on whether U.S. strikes on the country were legal.
A Number 10 spokesman said the government’s focus remained on securing a diplomatic solution in the wake of the U.S. attack against Iran’s nuclear programme over the weekend.
“We’re clear that the prevention of Iran getting nuclear weapons is a good thing for this country.
“But our focus is on diplomacy. That is the priority and that is what every member of this Government is working towards, and that’s been the focus of the calls with international partners over the weekend,” he said.
But asked whether the strikes had breached international law, the spokesman declined to comment, citing the “long-standing position” that the Government did not disclose the content of legal advice.
Earlier, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Iran to take a diplomatic “off-ramp” and engage in talks, as he cautioned Tehran against blockading the Strait of Hormuz or attacking U.S. bases in the Middle East.
Questions were asked about whether the shipping channel or oil exports through it could be blocked amid the tensions.
Speaking to the BBC on Monday morning, Lammy said he had been “crystal clear” that it would be a huge, catastrophic mistake to fire at U.S. bases in the region at this time.
“We have forces in the region at this time.
“It will be a catastrophic mistake. It will be a mistake to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.”
He said he thinks his counterpart “gets that and understands that.”
The UK has been pressing for Iran to engage in negotiations and diplomacy over the issues, and Lammy told the same programme: “Let’s take the diplomatic off-ramp. Let’s get serious and calm this thing down.”
Lammy is expected to address lawmakers in the Commons about the situation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had warned on Sunday that there was a risk of the crisis escalating beyond the Middle East, telling reporters “that’s a risk to the region.
“It’s a risk beyond the region, and that’s why all our focus has been on de-escalating, getting people back around to negotiate what is a very real threat about the nuclear programme.”
Starmer spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, and Downing Street said the leaders agreed Tehran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and called for Iran to return to negotiations.
The conversation came after the air raid by U.S. B-2 stealth bombers, and a salvo of submarine-launched missiles hit Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“They discussed the actions taken by the United States last night to reduce the threat and agreed that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” Downing Street said.
Lammy declined to say on Monday whether the U.S. military action was legal, but added: “I don’t say it’s not legitimate.”
Other countries have endorsed the U.S. strikes, with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong giving the White House her full backing on Monday.
“We support action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that is what this is,” she said.
In the hours after Trump’s phone call with Starmer, he again posted on Truth Social, saying.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”
The social media post marked a reversal from previous statements on regime change, including an earlier press conference from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, about the bombing of the three nuclear sites.
Iran is yet to confirm how much damage was done in the U.S.-led attack. (dpa/NAN)
