The New Statesman.

Hi there. Today we're bringing you an episode of our newly launched podcast, The Exchange,

where each week we speak to a major figure about world events, ideas, their intellectual

hinterland. I hope you enjoy it. And if you do, follow the link in the show notes to listen to more episodes or search

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Two weeks on from the US and Israel's coordinated attacks on Iran, the war in the Middle

East is raging on.

More than a thousand people have been killed, including the students and teachers of a girls'

primary school in Iran. Iran is attacking civilian and energy infrastructure in neighbouring countries

as they seek to destabilise the broader Middle East. Oil prices have surged and collapsed,

leading to fuel rationing in parts of Asia and stock market shocks in the West.

A global recession looms if the strait of Hummers does not reopen soon.

So what does it mean for our country, for Britain, in terms of energy prices and the cost of living,

in terms of international law, in terms of geopolitics, the delicately trodden relationship between

President Trump and Prime Minister Kirstama appears to be breaking down over the UK's participation,

or lack thereof. So, I wanted to speak to someone with direct involvement in these events,

with knowledge of the situation in the Middle East and inside Downing Street.

For this week's episode of The Exchange, I sat down in the Ministry of Justice with the Deputy

Prime Minister, David Lamy.

Is it your understanding then that these initial strikes by the Americans and Israelis are illegal?

I'm not going to get into speculation because in the end that is for them, the US and Israel,

and their own understanding of international law.

...