The UN’s nuclear watchdog chief has confirmed that inspectors will return to Iranian sites, a development swiftly hailed by the UK as a critical diplomatic breakthrough that could pave the way for a broader deal and avert further conflict in the region.
Labour and union leaders, who have long warned that war would hit working families hardest through higher energy bills and a squeeze on public spending, cautiously welcomed the news. “Every pound spent on bombs is a pound not spent on fixing the roof or cutting NHS waiting lists,” said one senior union source.
The confirmation came after weeks of intense back-channel negotiations, with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating that Iran had agreed to “essential verification activities” at two sites where undeclared nuclear material may have been present. The move is seen as a step towards reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, which had been crumbling since the US withdrawal in 2018.
British officials described the agreement as a “significant moment” that could unlock wider talks on regional security, including curbing Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for proxy militias. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “This shows diplomacy can work. We will judge by actions not words, but this is a promising sign.”
However, the announcement comes at a time when household budgets remain under severe strain. Fuel poverty rates have soared across the North and Midlands, with many families forced to choose between heating and eating. Anti-war campaigners argue that any escalation in the Middle East would drive oil prices even higher, worsening the cost-of-living crisis.
“Working people have already paid the price for foreign policy failures,” said a spokesperson for the Stop the War Coalition. “We need a just and lasting peace, not another war that enriches arms dealers while ordinary families struggle.”
On the shop floor, the reaction was cautious. In Manchester, where the textile industry once boomed but now relies on just-in-time supply chains from Asia, workers are acutely aware of how geopolitical shocks ripple through their livelihoods. “We saw what happened after the Iraq invasion,” said one factory worker, who asked not to be named. “Prices went up, jobs went down. If this deal stops that, it’s good. But I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The UK government has stressed that inspections are a first step and that serious differences remain, including over Iran’s enrichment levels and its regional activities. But for now, the prospect of war appears to have receded, offering a rare glimmer of hope.
“Diplomacy is always cheaper than war,” said one Labour MP. “But we need to ensure that any deal also delivers for British workers: lower fuel bills, more trade, and investment in our communities.”
The coming weeks will test whether this breakthrough is real or temporary. But for households worried about the next energy bill, any sign of de-escalation is a welcome one.
