Wes Streeting has criticised Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran, calling it “incendiary, provocative and outrageous” after the latest round of US-Iran peace talks failed to deliver an agreement.
The health secretary said the breakdown in talks was “disappointing”, but stressed that diplomatic efforts should continue. He argued that any eventual success in negotiations would be “in all of our interests”.
Speaking on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Streeting said diplomacy should not be judged only by immediate results. “As ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed,” he said. “So while these talks may not have ended in success, that doesn’t mean there isn’t merit in continuing to try.”
His comments come against the backdrop of continuing tensions over Iran and concern about how Washington is handling the crisis. Streeting’s remarks also suggest unease within the UK government about the tone of Trump’s intervention, with the health secretary saying relations between the UK and US have “undoubtedly been strained”.
The remarks add another political dimension to the Middle East crisis, where diplomatic efforts remain fragile and any signs of escalation are closely watched by allies and rivals alike. While Streeting acknowledged the failure of the latest talks, he framed the outcome as part of a wider process rather than a final judgment on diplomacy itself.
He said the fact that the discussions did not succeed this time should not be taken to mean negotiations are pointless. Instead, he suggested that persistence is essential if there is to be any chance of progress.
Streeting’s intervention reflects a broader concern in British politics about the implications of US policy on Iran and the risks of increasingly heated language. By describing Trump’s rhetoric in such stark terms, he signalled that the language being used around the conflict matters as much as the substance of the negotiations.
The health secretary’s comments also underline the delicate position of the UK, which must manage its relationship with the US while responding to a fast-moving international crisis. In Streeting’s view, however, the failure of one round of talks should not close the door on future efforts.
For now, the outcome leaves diplomacy unresolved. But Streeting’s message was clear: despite the disappointment, the search for an agreement should continue.
