Keir Starmer fears ‘further escalation’ as he calls on US, Israel and Iran to find common ground

Fintan Starkey
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:46:03 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has urged both Iran and the US to "find a way through" following a breakdown in peace talks in Pakistan.

Negotiations between the US and Iran collapsed in Islamabad on Sunday following lengthy discussions lasting 21 hours, with Vice President JD Vance declaring that Tehran had declined to commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions.

In a conversation with the Sultan of Oman, Mr Starmer said a continuation of the ceasefire would be "vital" and that "all parties avoided any further escalation."

Speaking after departing the Pakistani capital, Mr Vance stated that Iranian negotiators "have chosen not to accept our terms", including a pledge from Tehran not to pursue or develop nuclear weapons.

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The American vice president described the proposal as a "final and best offer" and insisted Washington had been "quite flexible" during the talks. The two sides offered starkly different explanations for the breakdown in negotiations.

An Iranian official stated: "It is false. Iran's position is clear. Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This right is undeniable and must be recognised."

The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the closed-door discussions, indicated that Iran remained willing to restrict its nuclear activities, including enrichment levels, as confidence-building measures.

Iran's Foreign Ministry offered a more conciliatory assessment, noting that both parties had reached agreement on several points and suggesting it was unrealistic to expect a comprehensive deal after just one day of talks.

The human toll of the conflict has been devastating. Iran's Legal Medicine Organisation reported that 3,375 bodies have been identified since US and Israeli strikes began, comprising 2,875 men and 496 women.

The provinces of Tehran, Hormozgan and Isfahan have suffered the greatest losses.

Hundreds of children have been killed according to official figures. Seven victims were infants under one year old, 255 were aged between one and twelve, and 121 were teenagers.

On the streets of Tehran, where Iranian flags and billboards celebrating military achievements lined the roads, ordinary citizens expressed their frustration.

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Farhad Simia, 43, standing outside a newsstand, said: "I'm against war. I think negotiation is the better path."

Despite his disappointment at the failed talks, he remained supportive of his country's position.

The collapse of these high-stakes negotiations has cast serious doubt over the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire, which is set to expire on April 22.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the outcome as "disappointing" during an appearance on the BBC.

In a brief three-minute statement following the talks, Mr Vance warned that the failure to reach agreement represented worse news for Iran than for America.

"So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are," he said.

President Trump, speaking before the press conference, struck a defiant tone, insisting the outcome made "no difference" to him.

"Regardless of what happens, we win," he added.