Iranian FM Warns Britain Against Cooperation With Potential US Strikes On Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned the United Kingdom against cooperating with any future United States military strikes on Iran, saying such involvement would be considered unacceptable under international law. The warning was conveyed during a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, according to a statement issued by Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday. Araghchi urged London to avoid any military assistance to what he described as "aggressors," even if carried out under existing defence agreements.

During the conversation, Araghchi criticised Britain's recent policies towards Iran, including London's designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat. He also accused the UK of being complicit in recent military conflicts involving the United States and Israel against Iran and called on the British government to reconsider its approach. The Iranian foreign minister argued that permitting a country's territory or military facilities to be used for attacks against another state could amount to an act of aggression under international law and would entitle the targeted nation to exercise its right to self-defence.

Araghchi further said Iran had entered diplomatic negotiations with the United States in good faith and had signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington in June aimed at reducing tensions and ending the conflict. However, he alleged that the United States failed to fulfil its commitments under the agreement. He also highlighted Iran's ongoing coordination with Oman to establish operational mechanisms for managing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that external interference could further destabilise one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes.

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Responding to Iran's concerns, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the United Kingdom had not participated in military operations against Iran and reiterated that diplomacy remained the best path to resolving disputes. However, the issue has gained prominence following reports that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham approved the continued use of British military bases by the United States for operations related to Iran, maintaining a policy introduced by the previous government.

The latest exchange comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following months of military confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel. According to the report, joint US-Israeli strikes launched in February targeted Tehran and other Iranian cities, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran on US and Israeli assets in the region. The conflict also led to increased security measures around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route, underscoring the continuing volatility and the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

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