The risk of a full-scale regional war in the Middle East is growing, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has warned in a joint article with his French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné.

Published in The Observer, the article highlights increasing cooperation between the UK and France as they work to defuse tensions with Iran and broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Lammy and Séjourné cautioned that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, coupled with Iran's threats of further escalation, could push the region into an even deeper and more intractable conflict.

"One miscalculation, and the situation risks spiraling into an even deeper and more intractable conflict," they wrote. "This cycle, with its tendency towards escalation, is making progress towards a political solution harder."

The foreign ministers emphasized the urgent need for all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy to prevent further violence.

"An all-out conflict across the region is in nobody’s interests," Lammy and Séjourné assert. "All parties need to show restraint and invest in diplomacy. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences, not least in undermining current Gaza ceasefire negotiations."

They also underscored the importance of securing a ceasefire deal to alleviate civilian suffering and restore a sense of security to the region.

"Our engagement reinforces our conviction that urgently securing such a deal is in the interests of Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region," they state. "Only a deal can relieve civilian suffering. Only a deal can restore communities’ sense of security. Only a deal can open up the space for progress towards a two-state solution – the only long-term route to safety, security, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike."

The ministers concluded their article with a clear message: "There is no time for delays or excuses from all parties on a ceasefire deal."