American diplomats are due to arrive in Doha to meet with mediators but will not hold direct talks with Iranian officials, a move that underscores the delicate state of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. The US delegation will engage with representatives from Qatar and other intermediaries, yet the absence of direct engagement with Iran reflects the deepening mistrust between the two nations. The UK has issued a stark warning that the nuclear deal is becoming increasingly fragile, with time running out to salvage an agreement that once promised to curb Iran’s atomic ambitions.
For British officials, the stakes could not be higher. A collapse of the accord risks triggering a regional arms race and further instability in the Middle East, a region already scarred by conflict. The economic implications are also significant: oil prices could spike, squeezing households already grappling with the cost of living crisis.
Workers in the North, who rely on affordable energy and stable markets, would feel the pinch at the petrol pump and on their heating bills. The UK government has urged all parties to show restraint and return to meaningful dialogue, but the path forward remains uncertain. The failure to secure a deal would not only be a diplomatic setback but a direct blow to the economic security of ordinary people.
