British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Donald Trump to step back from military action against Iran, BBC reports.

The prime minister says there is a “real risk of escalation” in the conflict, urging all sides to seek a diplomatic outcome.

He says there have previously been “several rounds of discussions with the US” and “that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue”.

His comments come as Foreign Secretary David Lammy takes the UK’s plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he will meet Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio and discuss the situation in the Middle East.

Opinion

Editorial

Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....
Battling hate
Updated 15 Mar, 2026

Battling hate

In the current scenario, geopolitical conflict, racial prejudice and religious bigotry all contribute to the threats Muslims face.
TB drugs shortage
15 Mar, 2026

TB drugs shortage

‘CRIMINAL negligence’ is the phrase that jumps to mind when one considers the disturbing consequences of the...
Chinese diplomacy
Updated 14 Mar, 2026

Chinese diplomacy

THERE are signs that China is taking a more active role in trying to resolve the issue of cross-border terrorism...