British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged U.S. President Donald Trump not to abandon the diplomatic path with Iran amid mounting concerns of imminent American military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Starmer Pushes for De-escalation Amid Growing War Risk

In a pointed public appeal, Starmer said on Thursday that the nuclear issue with Iran should be resolved through negotiation rather than conflict. “There have been several rounds of discussions with the US. That, to me, is the way to resolve this issue,” he told broadcasters, reaffirming the UK's preference for de-escalation in the Middle East.

The comments come as U.S. officials reportedly prepare for a possible strike on Iran over the weekend, following an Iranian missile strike that hit an Israeli hospital—marking the first direct attack on such a site since the outbreak of hostilities a week ago.

UK’s Diplomatic Offensive

The UK has intensified its diplomatic push. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Thursday, aiming to convince the Trump administration to pursue peace. Lammy also joined a call earlier this week with European leaders and Iran, underlining the shared commitment to regional stability and a long-term diplomatic solution.

“The UK has had long standing concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme,” the Foreign Office said. “The foreign secretary is ready to support talks… reiterating the need for a diplomatic settlement.”

Diego Garcia Dilemma

Any potential U.S. strike could place the UK in a politically sensitive position, especially if the U.S. requests access to the RAF base at Diego Garcia. Former UK national security adviser Peter Ricketts noted, “It will be very hard to say no to a US request to use Diego Garcia… I can’t think of another British prime minister who has done that.”

Starmer, who chaired an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday, is navigating a political landscape haunted by the legacy of Tony Blair’s support for the Iraq invasion two decades ago.

Iran Signals Openness to Diplomacy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized in a social media post that Iran remains committed to diplomacy. He is expected to meet with counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany on Friday in Geneva. The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas is also expected to attend.

Meanwhile, British officials are working to ensure the safety of nationals in the region. Israeli airspace could reopen within 24 hours, allowing evacuations to proceed.

“There’s a real risk of escalation here that will impact the region, possibly beyond the region… So I’ve been absolutely clear we need to de-escalate this,” Starmer concluded.