UK Warns U.S. Strikes Won’t Halt Iran’s Nuclear Program — “Only Diplomacy Can”

According to Saed News, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament on Monday that military strikes will not dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and that only a diplomatic solution remains viable amid rising regional tensions. His remarks follow U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites that have reignited fears of a broader conflict.

“We still don’t know the extent to which the American strikes have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Lammy said during an emergency session in the House of Commons. “But the point is this: no amount of bombing can erase decades of scientific knowledge. If a regime is intent on developing nuclear weapons, military action alone will not stop it.”

Lammy issued a stern warning about the mounting instability in the region, calling for “a durable diplomatic solution” before the situation further deteriorates. “The window for diplomacy is narrowing, but the risks of escalation—and the costs to the UK and our regional partners—are too great. That’s why this crisis is a top priority for the government.”

The Foreign Secretary added that British diplomats are working intensively to contain the crisis. “We can, and we must, find a negotiated path forward. It is the only way to avoid a broader and unpredictable conflict,” he said.

Following the recent strikes, Lammy noted that he had been in contact with senior officials from the United States, Israel, Europe, and Iran. While avoiding direct attribution of blame, he emphasized a clear message to Tehran: “Accept the proposal on the table, de-escalate, and engage seriously and urgently with the United States.”

Lammy also voiced concern over threats to maritime stability, particularly the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such moves could further complicate diplomatic efforts. He reiterated that the United Kingdom was not involved in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

The Commons session was convened after the United States launched direct military strikes early Sunday morning (June 23) against Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites—escalating what had been a proxy conflict into open confrontation. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s right under Article 51 of the UN Charter to defend its sovereignty, people, and national interests by any means necessary.

As Western capitals weigh the fallout from the attack, London is attempting to salvage a diplomatic track that appears increasingly fragile, warning that the price of failure may be a war the region—and the world—cannot afford.