Britain’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, did not take part in the final talks between the United States and Iran that occurred before U.S. and Israeli forces carried out strikes on Iran, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters on Wednesday.
The clarification came after a report said Powell had been inside the ambassadorial residence of Oman in Geneva for those discussions and had assessed Tehran’s offer on its nuclear programme as sufficiently significant to avert a rapid move to war. The Downing Street spokesperson rejected that description.
"These negotiations were bilateral between the U.S. and Iran, facilitated by Oman. Jonathan was not present in the talks in Geneva and was not part of talks in the residence," the spokesperson said, responding to questions about the report.
The spokesman added that no group of British officials participated in the negotiations. He said the United Kingdom had backed the approach taken by the two White House envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and had supported their efforts to secure a negotiated resolution.
The exchanges in Geneva were described by the spokesperson as being limited to U.S.-Iran engagement with Oman acting as facilitator. That account stands in contrast to the reporting that suggested British presence and judgment about Tehran’s overtures.
On February 28, the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, an action that has since contributed to a broader conflict across the Middle East. The hostilities have resulted in thousands of deaths across the region and the loss of 13 U.S. service members, according to the information cited in the briefing.
The prime minister’s office emphasized its backing for the envoys’ diplomatic efforts while categorically denying any direct British involvement in the final phase of those talks. Beyond reiterating the nature of the negotiations as bilateral and Oman-facilitated, the spokesperson did not provide further detail about the content of the discussions or about any other states’ roles.
What was said:
- Jonathan Powell was not present at the Geneva talks or in the ambassadorial residence, according to the UK spokesperson.
- The negotiations were described as bilateral between the U.S. and Iran and facilitated by Oman.
- The UK supported the diplomatic approach pursued by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner but did not participate with a delegation.