According to the Daily Mail, Labour's John Healey repeatedly dodged questions on whether Britain supports Donald Trump's strikes on Iran. The Daily Mail reports that John Healey refused six times in a TV interview to say if the UK backed the US and Israeli action or if the Government considered the action to be legal. Healey pointed to how Britain 'played no part' in the strikes on Iran.
He said it was up to America to 'set out the legal basis of the action that it took'. The Daily Mail states that John Healey dodged on whether the UK had refused the US permission to use British military bases, such as Diego Garcia, to strike Iran. Healey said 'few people would mourn' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death in the US-Israeli strikes.
He said Britain shared the 'primary aim' that Iran 'should never have a nuclear weapon'. The Guardian reports that the UK defence secretary has said few will mourn Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced after US and Israeli airstrikes. Healey described the Iranian regime as 'evil' and said it had menaced the west by sponsoring at least 20 terrorist plots to attack the UK as well as involvement in proxy wars.
Britain played no part in the strikes on Iran.
He did not criticise the US and Israeli strikes, saying it was 'for the US to set out and explain' whether its action was legal. The Guardian states that John Healey refused to be drawn on the UK having declined use of its military bases for the attacks. While distancing the UK from the strikes, Healey said the government’s role was now to act defensively.
He said there was a 'very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out across the region'. Healey said UK military planes were active in the Middle East in order to protect British citizens and interests across the region, shooting down missiles that could threaten them. He said Iran should get rid of its weapons and return to negotiation.
Healey said Iran was hitting out in an 'indiscriminate' way, attacking hotels in Dubai and Bahrain as well as an airport in Kuwait. The Guardian reports that the US and Israeli action has divided opinion in the UK. Emily Thornberry said the attack was in breach of international law and she was glad the UK was not involved.
We share, however, the primary aim of all allies in the region and the US that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon.
Zack Polanski condemned the assassination of the ayatollah and said there was no justification for the bombing. The Daily Mail reports that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch backs the US and Israeli action. Kemi Badenoch lashed out at John Healey's failure to answer questions on Britain's position.
Donald Trump last month revealed he was considering using the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford to launch strikes on Iran. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is said to have warned Donald Trump that the UK would not allow the use of British facilities for any pre-emptive military action. Britain's refusal to allow the US to use its military bases came after a legal opinion, drafted for Sir Keir by Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer, emphasised the primacy of international law.
Whether the UK officially supports the US and Israeli strikes on Iran remains unclear, as does whether the UK explicitly refused the US permission to use British military bases for the strikes. The specific legal basis cited by the US for the strikes on Iran has not been detailed by UK officials.