The United Kingdom (UK) has responded after receiving a severe warning from Iran for allowing United States forces to use British bases in the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The UK government has categorically insisted its limited support for US military operations continues strictly defensive and is only aimed at countering Tehran’s aggression in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made a phone call to his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, and issued her with a stern warning that allowing American forces to launch from UK bases would be viewed as “participation in aggression,” with chances of triggering a military response from Iran.
The BBC reported that Abbas Araghchi noted that such moves would go down in the history of bilateral ties and stressed that Iran had every right to defend its sovereignty.
After the said phone call, Abbas Araghchi also took to social media to shed more light on his message. In a Telegram post in Farsi, Araghchi elaborated on his message to Cooper, framing the UK’s decision as direct involvement in what Tehran sees as hostile actions tied to US and Israeli strikes.
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UK responds
The Foreign Office answered quickly, making clear that Cooper had warned Iran against any direct targeting of UK bases, territory, or interests.
She also went further by denouncing Tehran’s “reckless attacks” against the Gulf states and the vital energy assets, calling for the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, an essential international waterway currently heavily impacted.
“The foreign secretary made clear to the foreign minister that the defensive UK operations in the region were a response to the Iranian aggression against Gulf partner countries who had not attacked Iran,” a Foreign Office statement said as reported by The Independent.
“She called on Iran to immediately stop these reckless strikes against its neighbours.”
Downing Street reinforced the line, with the prime minister’s spokesperson stressing that Britain did not join the opening salvos and has no intention of being pulled into a wider war.
Permission for US use of British facilities was granted only for “specific defensive and limited” purposes, they said, in reaction to ongoing Iranian threats.
UK government finds itself in a delicate situation amid the widening US-Israel campaign against Iran, now in its third week.
While the UK has avoided offensive involvement, the base-sharing arrangement has drawn sharp criticism from Tehran, raising fears of reprisals.
This comes amid chaos in the Persian Gulf, where Iran has effectively choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
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Attacks on tankers and energy infrastructure have sent global prices soaring past $100 a barrel, sparking shortages and economic ripples far beyond the region.
A few days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump reached out to key allies, including NATO members, asking them to deploy warships and help secure the crucial Strait of Hormuz, but his request fell on deaf ears.
This Friday, Trump ramped up pressure, branding NATO allies “cowards” for not stepping up to help secure the waterway.
He said he still has the capabilities to do it alone. Reports indicate his administration is weighing drastic options, including sending ground troops to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub handling about 90% of the country’s crude exports, to force Tehran to stand down and open the waterway for commercial ships.
The coming days will tell whether warnings turn into action or if back-channel efforts can pull the situation back from the brink.
