UK's Leader Pushes for Talks as Trump Weighs Iran Strike

The UK's top leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is pushing for talks instead of military action as tensions rise between Israel and Iran. This comes as US President Donald Trump is thinking about joining Israel in attacking Iran. The BBC's partner in the US, CBS, reported that Trump has okayed attack plans but hasn't made a final call. Sir Keir thinks the best way to handle Iran's nuclear program is through negotiations, not conflict. He acknowledges that Iran's nuclear activities are worrying and that Israel has the right to defend itself. However, he stresses the need to avoid escalating the situation. The risk of things getting worse in the region is clear, he said. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party's shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, has a different view. She believes the UK should back the US if it decides to attack Iran. Dame Priti argues that the UK can't just hide behind legal advice when there's a crisis. She thinks the UK should work with its allies, the US and Israel, and support them if they need help. The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, disagrees. He wants any legal advice given to the government to be made public. He doesn't want the UK to be dragged into another war in the Middle East, especially if it's not legal. The UK's foreign secretary, David Lammy, is currently in Washington, meeting with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is also set to talk with his counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany about the nuclear program. He insists that Iran is committed to diplomacy. There's been speculation about whether the UK would get involved if the US decides to intervene. The Conservatives have said they would support the government in helping the US. Israel has been justifying its actions by saying that Iran's nuclear program is an "imminent" and "existential" threat. Iran, however, claims its program is peaceful. The two countries have been exchanging fire for days after air strikes. The UK even helped defend Israel from Iranian attacks last year. The US might want to use the UK's military base in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, to launch B-2 stealth bombers. These planes could potentially destroy Iran's underground nuclear enrichment plant. However, there are questions about whether Israel's actions in Iran are lawful, which could affect the UK's ability to support any US action.