Iran Warns UK On Letting US Use Bases

Iran’s foreign minister in a phone call with United Kingdom’s Yvette Cooper yesterday warned the UK that it viewed its choice to let the United States use British bases as “participation in aggression.”

In his account of the call with the UK foreign secretary, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said he had also criticised the “negative and biased” approach of the UK and demanded that it cease any cooperation with the United States.

The UK did not allow the US to use its bases for initial offensive attacks against Iran but subsequently gave permission for them to be used for defensive action on Iranian missile strikes.

Downing Street said: “We didn’t participate in the initial strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman added: “We have authorised the US to use our bases for a specific defensive and limited purpose in response to Iran’s continued and outrageous aggression, and we’ve always said that this is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and restore a path to diplomacy.”

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly and vehemently criticised the UK for not getting more involved in the conflict.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his stance, saying: “It is for me to act in what I consider to be the best interests of Britain”.