Iran slams UK over Gaza ceasefire 'hypocrisy' amid support for Israel

The Iranian embassy in London has slammed UK Foreign Minister David Lammy accusing the country of "hypocrisy" over claiming to want a ceasefire for Gaza but ignoring the many fatalities that might happen before a deal is reached.

It came after Lammy spoke to Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, where the UK foreign minister said he "reiterated the UK's support for Israel's security, the importance of restraint, the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages".

The UK, US, and Arab states have pushed for a ceasefire deal for Gaza in recent weeks but this has been repeatedly stalled over disagreements on its implementation by Israel and Hamas.

Iran blames Israel for the delay in agreeing on a ceasefire deal and says the UK is complicit in the deaths in Gaza during this period.

"The Zionist regime has full backing for its actions in Palestine, and other countries should refrain from responding to its crimes to avoid escalating tensions," the embassy wrote on X.

The Iranian embassy said that while the UK has publicly supported a ceasefire "there seems to be little concern about the thousands of women and children who may be killed before that ceasefire is achieved".

Israel's war on Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians - mostly civilians - and the UK has been accused of being complicit in the slaughter by supporting Israel's "right to defend itself" and continuing arms sales to the country.

While the foreign secretary has reaffirmed a ceasefire call in Israel and has called for talks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there are calls for Lammy to impose sanctions on Israel over its war and to urge the government to recognise a Palestinian state.

Iran has accused Western nations, including the UK, of "double standards" after opposing a Russian-drafted UN Security Council statement that would have condemned Israel's attack on Iran's embassy compound in Syria.

Fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East are brewing following the assassination of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah chief Fuad Shukr with Iran vowing to avenge the killing on its soil.

Tehran launched unprecedented retaliatory strikes on Israel in April after the death of the top Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in Damascus, for which the UK condemned the nation.

The US fears the strikes may exceed the April strikes.

Iranian officials say only a ceasefire deal in Gaza would prevent Tehran from retaliating directly, while talks ended without an agreement over the weekend. The White House said negotiations are "still pressing ahead" in Cairo.