Theresa May calls for 'urgent de-escalation of tensions' between US and Iran

Prime minister calls for international community to 'stand together against Iran’s deeply destabilising activity'

Theresa May has issued a plea for a diplomatic solution to the stand-off between the US and Iran, as Donald Trump openly discusses the possibility of military action in retaliation for Tehran’s downing of a US military drone.

Speaking as she set off for the G20 summit in Japan, Ms May called for the international community to “stand together against Iran’s deeply destabilising activity” but said the priority must be “the urgent de-escalation of tensions” and a diplomatic resolution.

In a message to fellow leaders apparently aimed squarely at Mr Trump, Ms May issued an appeal for international cooperation and compromise to deal with global challenges.

Setting her face firmly against Mr Trump’s dismissive attitude towards international institutions, she will use her final global summit as PM to make clear she believes strongly in the continued importance of the G20 as a forum for countries to talk to one another and seek agreement.

The annual gathering of leaders of the world’s major economies takes place in Osaka with international tensions at a high pitch over Iran and the rumbling trade war between the US and China.

A planned meeting between the US president and Chinese premier Xi Jinping on Saturday is likely to be the focus of attention at the two-day gathering in Osaka, with Mr Trump warning he is ready to hike tariffs if no progress is made.

The US president – who last week ordered a retaliatory airstrike on Iran after the downing of an American drone, only to call it off at the last moment – also appeared to be toying with the idea of military action as he prepared to set off for Japan.

Asked if war was brewing, he told Fox Business Network: “I hope we don’t but we’re in a very strong position if something should happen. I’m not talking boots on the ground, I’m just saying if something would happen, it wouldn’t last very long.”

Speaking ahead of her swansong summit, Ms May seemed to have the president very much in mind as she said: “My message to G20 leaders this week is this: it is only through international co-operation and compromise that we can protect our citizens’ security and prosperity and make the world a safer and a better place to live.”

The US president’s approach to the Iran nuclear deal, and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord, have led to some “forthright” discussions between Ms May and Mr Trump, according to a senior British government official.

“She has been very forthright in her views on both of these issues in her meetings with the president,” the official said.

Ms May will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday for their first formal talks since the chemical weapon attack in Salisbury last year.

But Downing Street played down suggestions that the meeting marked a thaw in UK-Russia relations, which have been in the deep-freeze since the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent novichok.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said Ms May would take the opportunity to restate her concerns over Russia’s “pattern of malign behaviour” and will say that any improvement in relations would require Moscow to “desist from activity that undermines international treaties and our collective security”, like the March 2018 poison attack.

“This meeting does not represent a normalisation of relations,” said the spokesman.

The Kremlin seemed readier to contemplate a return to warmer relations, with a spokesman for Mr Putin saying that Moscow would welcome any opportunity to “establish new co-operation” with Britain.

Ms May is due to use the two-day gathering of world leaders to push for global action on climate change and the use of the internet by terrorists, highlighting UK leadership on the issues.

As she set off for the summit, she said: “With the threat of climate change putting future generations at risk, vile terrorist propaganda continuing to spread online, and rising tensions in the Gulf, this summit is an opportunity for us to address critical global challenges affecting our nations.

“The UK has never been afraid to defend our values and our interests, stand up for global rules and tackle difficult issues head on.

“From our ambitious plans to protect the environment and our relentless fight against extremism in all its forms, to our promotion of free and fair trade and our world-leading international development expertise – we have consistently shaped global responses to the most pressing challenges of our time and called on others to step up and do more.

“Undoubtedly there are issues facing us today on which our countries do not all take the same approach. But I firmly believe that progress will be greatest when we approach shared challenges in a spirit of genuine collaboration. As we have seen time and time again – we are always stronger when we work together.”