Iranian FM warns Britain against cooperation with US strikes on Iran
Tehran, Aug 1
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned Britain against any military cooperation with the United States in carrying out strikes on Iran.
Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, stressing that any cooperation with "aggressors," including under the pretext of existing defence agreements, would be "unacceptable," according to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.
Araghchi criticised what he described as the British government's "unjustified and inappropriate" policies toward Iran, citing London's recent designation of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat and its "complicity" in two wars imposed by the United States and Israel against Iran in recent months. He called on Britain to reconsider its approach toward Tehran.
He said that under international law and the Convention for the Definition of Aggression, allowing a country's territory and facilities to be used for illegal attacks against another state constitutes an act of aggression and gives the attacked country the right to self-defence.
Araghchi said Iran had entered a diplomatic process with the United States in good faith and signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington in June aimed at ending the conflict, but Washington failed to honour its commitments, Xinhua news agency reported.
He also highlighted Iran's efforts to establish operational mechanisms with Oman to manage shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that third-party interference would only further complicate matters.
For his part, Miliband said his country was not involved in the war against Iran and maintained that diplomacy was the way to resolve disputes.
Last month, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham approved the continued US use of British military bases for operations related to Iran, maintaining a policy established by his predecessor.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli bases and assets in the region, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global oil supplies, including for us in India. Any conflict there directly affects our economy. I hope Iran and the US can sort this out without dragging more countries in. The world has had enough of wars.
Iran's warning to Britain is justified. If you allow your land to be used for attacks, you're complicit. International law is clear on this. But I also think Iran needs to engage more constructively with the international community instead of just issuing threats. Both sides need to show some maturity.
As an Indian, I worry about the ripple effects. We import a lot of oil from the Gulf region, and any instability in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to our energy security. I hope cooler heads prevail. War is never a solution; it only brings suffering to innocent people. 😔
The US keeps making promises and breaking them. Iran trusted them once and got burned. Now they're asking for help with the Strait of Hormuz and Britain is playing both sides. This is classic geopolitical hypocrisy. India should stay neutral and prioritize its own interests, not get dragged into these alliances.
From a global perspective, this escalating rhetoric is alarming. The killing of a supreme leader, missile strikes, and now warnings to Britain—it feels like we're on the brink of a wider war. Diplomacy must prevail—for the sake of the region and the world. Enough with the aggression.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.