Ed Miliband has refused to tell Laura Kuenssberg exactly what Donald Trump wants to achieve in Iran during a painful interview.

The US president chose to strike Iran with Israel at the end of February, killing the country’s Supreme Leader.

The Middle East is now in a state of turmoil as Tehran strikes back and effectively blocks a major oil shipping lane known as the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK rejected initial US requests to use British military bases to launch strikes against Iran, much to Trump’s fury.

The government has since allowed the US to use its sites for “limited and defensive” strikes.

But Trump also asked the UK, and other allies, to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which risks dragging the country further into the war.

When asked if the aims of this conflict are clear on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, cabinet minister Miliband said: “The US made its decision with Israel to launch this initial attack on Iran.

“We don’t want to see a nuclear Iran, that is shared by all of us. But I think it is in all of our interests to bring this war to an end.”

Kuenssberg pointed out how even prime minister Keir Starmer said the war was unplanned and unlawful when it broke out and asked if anything had changed in the last fortnight.

Miliband smiled and dodged the question, adding: “Tempting as it is to talk about this is a public setting…”

Kuenssberg noted viewers would probably conclude the government is not sure what the Americans are trying to do.

Miliband just insisted that the war aims are up to the Americans, and it is the position of the UK government that the conflict must be de-escalated.

She asked for his response to Trump’s claim that he might try and hit a vital Iranian oil hub “just for fun”.

He replied: “I think what you’re tempting me to do is to speculate or commentate…”

“I’m asking you about conduct in a war by our closest ally, that is not asking you to speculate,” she cut in.

Miliband said the British government was right not to join the initial conflict as they were worried about the initial plan and some of the consequences that would come with it.

Asked if there was a proper plan now, the energy security secretary said: “I think I’ve answered that question.”

Only last week the president insisted the US did not want the UK’s aircraft carries to help him in Iran.

He claimed: “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”

In response to Trump’s latest request, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “As we’ve said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region.”

Ed Miliband made it clear Britain will not be following Donald Trump’s example by easing sanctions on Russia.

The US president has temporarily relaxed penalties on Moscow to help its oil trade while the Iran conflict puts global supplies under pressure.

The controversial move risks undermining a united western effort to punish Vladimir Putin for his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

But, due to Trump’s aggression against Iran, Tehran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately a fifth of the global oil supply, by attacking any ships using the waterway.

The cost of oil has skyrocketed just two weeks after the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Russia used to supply much of Europe with cheap oil, but the continent weaned itself off such exports in the wake of the Ukraine war.

Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, told Sky News: “We’ve not lifted our sanctions against Russia because it is very, very important that we continue to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people

“This was an illegal invasion launched more than four years ago. Our solidarity with the Ukrainian people has been incredibly important throughout these four years,”

“We continue to believe that for the good the UK, we continue to maintain sanctions on Russia. We think it is incredibly important that we send a clear message to Putin on these questions.”

On Trump’s call for allies to send warships to help reopen the strait of Hormuz, Miliband simply said it is important to reopen the waterway and the UK is working with European leaders and Gulf partners.

“We need to de-escalate this crisis, because the best and most conclusive way to get the strait reopened is to get this conflict it to end,” he said.