Regime change in Iran would result in 'chaos', Macron says

 Regime change in Iran would result in 'chaos', Macron says

France's President Emmanuel Macron has just spoken at the G7 summit in Canada.

He says it would be a big error for a regime change in Iran to be achieved through military means, according to reporting from Reuters and the AFP news agency.

He says a regime change would bring "chaos" and he believes nations should come back to the negotiation table to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

"I believe we need the United States of America to bring everyone back around the table," he says.

National Security Council meeting ongoing at White House

President Trump is meeting with his National Security Council, the White House has confirmed.

Moments ago, a solitary Marine was standing outside the West Wing of the White House, indicating that the President is inside.

We are very unlikely to get much in the way of details of the meeting, and we aren't expecting a media "read-out" afterwards.

UK defence secretary calls for all sides to show restraint

The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, says the deteriorating situation in the Middle East is "a dangerous moment" for the entire region. The government has always supported Israel’s right to security – and had grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, he says.

But he calls on all sides to show restraint. Healey says a diplomatic resolution rather than military action was the only route to a lasting peace.

The defence secretary says additional military assets has been arriving in the region – including extra Typhoon jets at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. It was a response to protect UK military personnel in the region - who are now on high alert. The move was to reinforce security.

Asked whether he was concerned the US might join Israel’s attacks on Iran – with more US jets also being sent to the region, Healey says President Trump has been leading the calls for Tehran to do a deal.

He describes the increased UK and US military posture as reinforcing the messages to Iran that the diplomatic route is the way to settle the situation.