Israel FM Tells French, British Counterparts He Expects Allies to Attack Iran if it Strikes

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israel FM Tells French, British Counterparts He Expects Allies to Attack Iran if it Strikes

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos, July 26, 2024. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told his French and British counterparts Friday that his country expects support "in attacking" Iran if it strikes Israel.

"If Iran attacks, we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defense but also in attacking significant targets in Iran," Katz told his French and UK counterparts during their visit to Israel.

The visit by Britain's David Lammy and France's Stephane Sejourne to Israel comes as a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in Doha, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home.

The talks came as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

"This is a dangerous moment for the Middle East," Lammy said in a statement. "The risk of the situation spiralling out of control is rising. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region."

Britain and France are calling for a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and restore peace along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the British foreign ministry said.

"It's never too late for peace. We must at all costs avoid a regional war, which would have terrible consequences," French foreign minister Sejourne said in a statement.

The visit by the duo marks the first UK-France joint visit to Israel in more than 10 years.



Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Talks in Türkiye Are Still on, but Doesn’t Say Who Is Going 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
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Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Talks in Türkiye Are Still on, but Doesn’t Say Who Is Going 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on Thursday for possible direct peace talks with Ukraine, but did not disclose who would be there from Moscow's side.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Sunday proposed direct negotiations in Türkiye on Thursday "without any preconditions," but he did not say who would attend from Moscow's side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he would attend the talks with Russia only if Putin is also there.

Unconfirmed Russian and US media reports have reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, will be in Istanbul and ready to meet their Ukrainian counterparts.

Asked by reporters in a daily briefing on Wednesday if the Kremlin could reveal the make-up of the Russian delegation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We will do that when we get an instruction to do so from the president."

But Peskov said that Putin's offer of direct talks with Ukraine "remained valid."

"The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15", Peskov said.

The planned talks have become the main focus of peace efforts led by US President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he will send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to the talks, while also offering to attend himself.