Keir Starmer voices 'grave concerns' over Iran’s nuclear programme in call with Donald Trump

13 June 2025, 20:19 | Updated: 13 June 2025, 21:31

Sir Keir Starmer expressed the UK's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, according to a government spokesperson.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this evening.

“The leaders discussed the military action in the Middle East overnight and agreed on the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

“Updating on his conversations with partners today, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programmes.

“The leaders looked forward to speaking again at the G7 in Canada next week.”

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer urged "all parties to step back" after Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks across Iran, as the threat of all-out war in the Middle East continues to grow.

The PM convened a Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the escalating situation, after Israeli missiles were intercepted south of Tehran by the Iranian air defences for the second time in 24 hours.

Local media reported that two loud explosions were heard near Iran's Fordow nuclear station - where one Israeli drone was reportedly shot down.

The Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain and located south of the capital, is one of two nuclear sites where Iran has been enriching uranium to near-bomb grade.

Sir Keir urged "all parties to step back" after Israel launched a fresh wave of attacks across Iran, as the threat of all-out war in the Middle East continues to grow.

Iranian citizens also reportedly heard explosions in western Tehran, as well as other parts of the city.

Following the reports of explosions in Iran, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) says they have carried out strikes against Iran's nuclear plant in Isfahan.

Air Force jets attacked the nuclear site, which is where the process of reconversion of enriched uranium takes place, according to the IDF.

Following the attack, the Israeli military said Iran had launched missiles towards it in response, while the launch of a rocket from Yemen had also been identified.

Sir Keir called for tensions to be "urgently” reduced in the region, but also admitted his "grave concerns" about Iran’s nuclear programme and backed Israel’s right to self defence.

Read more: Trump warns 'Iran must make a deal, before there’s nothing left' after Israel hits nuclear sites

Read more: Female passenger 'still shivering' after missing Air India flight by 'just 10 minutes' due to traffic

This latest missile strike from Israel follows their wide-reaching overnight attack on sites across Iran - which also targeted a range of nuclear and military facilities.

Dubbed Operation Rising Lion, it sent 200 warplanes to conduct a wave of air strikes across Iran before dawn, hitting nuclear facilities and missile factories, killing military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted "Iran's nuclear programme and other military targets" and were a part of their efforts to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The IDF added that it had "destroyed a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for converting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure".

In the hours that followed, Iran ominously declared Israel’s assault on its military facilities a "declaration of war".

Jerusalem's air raid alert system was triggered following Iran latest missile launch.

Residents were instructed to stay close to protected spaces and minimise movement in open areas.

The IDF said it was "operating to intercept the threat".

Retaliatory measures earlier on Friday saw the Iranian military fire 100 drones at Israel in what it vowed was “harsh and decisive” action.

Responding to the airstrikes, Donald Trump warned Iran that it "must make a deal, before there is nothing left".

His comments came as the US insisted it was not involved in the overnight air strikes unleashed by Israel.

Taking to Truth Social on Friday, he wrote: "I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done.

"I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it.

"Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!

"There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.

"Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.

"No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!"

Ahead of the strike, Israel gave the impression its focus was still on U.S. diplomacy towards a nuclear deal with Iran, briefing journalists that its spy chief would go to Washington before the next negotiations.

Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said on Friday that Iran's nuclear programme cannot be completely destroyed by a military campaign.

However, it could "create the conditions for a long-term deal, led by the United States, that will completely thwart the nuclear program", he told Israel's Channel 13 TV.

Tehran has so far not commented on the latest strikes.