Defence Minister Luke Pollard has declared a "diplomatic off-ramp" represents the sole viable path forward for Iran following US strikes on the country's nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The minister's comments come as tensions escalate between Iran and Western powers, with the UK maintaining its position alongside the US in seeking an Iran without nuclear weapons capabilities.
Pollard told GB News: “The UK and the US share the same long-term ambition, and that is an Iran without nuclear weapons, without their ability to threaten their allies in the region and to threaten regional war. That is the shared long term ambition that we have.
“The UK wasn't involved in the US strikes that we saw over the weekend, but our focus now, as it has been in the last few weeks, is to pile diplomatic pressure on the regime in Tehran to return to the negotiating table to find a diplomatic solution that will see them give up their nuclear weapons program and restore peace and stability in the region.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard told GB News that Iran must "return to the table"
GB NEWS
“But the pressure needs to be on Iran now, itt is for them to decide what happens next. But when their leaders are hiding in bunkers, when they've lost their air defences over nearly their entire country, and when their network of proxies causing such instability in the region is in disarray, there's no military retaliation that gives them an end to this crisis.
“The only option is a diplomatic off-ramp and that's why they've got to return to the table.
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“It's very clear that Iran should not have a nuclear bomb and that's why the Americans took the actions that they did to alleviate the threat, as they saw it.
"What we need to be very clear with to those with the terrible regime in Iran is that there is not an option for them that does not see them return to the table.
“There's not a military option available to them, there's not any route that does not involve them returning to the negotiating table and doing something that they haven't done in recent months, and that's negotiate in good faith, because this is a murderous regime that kills its own people.
“It's a regime that has threatened instability throughout the Middle East, and it is one that has sponsored terrorism. It is a regime that cannot have a nuclear weapon."
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Iran has responded with stark warnings following the US military action, threatening severe repercussions that could expand the conflict across the region.
"This hostile act... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said on state television.
The spokesman issued a direct threat to the United States, warning: "The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted (military) operations."
These threats emerged today as the Iran-Israel war entered its eleventh day, marking a significant escalation in rhetoric from Tehran following the weekend strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The UK has maintained its position alongside the US in seeking an Iran without nuclear weapons capabilities
PAThe minister also addressed the safety of British citizens caught in the conflict zone.
"We're making sure that for those British nationals that are caught up in this in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, that we're providing routes for them to get out of harm's way and get back to safety," he said.
These protective measures come as the UK maintains its diplomatic stance whilst preparing for potential further escalation in the region.
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