Few will mourn leader of ‘evil’ regime Ali Khamenei, says UK defence secretary | Foreign policy
The British defense minister said that few people will mourn the death of Iran’s religious leader Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced following the US and Israeli air strikes.
Senior cabinet minister John Healey described the Iranian regime as “evil” and said it threatened the West by sponsoring at least 20 terrorist plots aimed at attacking Britain and engaging in proxy wars.
He did not criticize the US and Israeli attacks and said it was “up to the US” whether his action was legal or not. However, he also refused to take advantage of Britain, which refused to use its military bases for attacks.
Healey said the government’s role was now to act defensively as it steered Britain away from attack. He said there was “a very real and growing threat from a regime attacking all corners of the region.”
Speaking to Sky News, Healey said that British military aircraft were active in the Middle East to protect British citizens and interests in the region and shot down missiles that could threaten them. Healey said Iran should get rid of its weapons and return to negotiations.
When asked for his reaction to Khamenei’s killing, he said: “I think few people will mourn the death of the Ayatollah, especially the families and friends of the thousands of protesters killed in the streets of Iranian cities… Iran and the regime it has long ruled are a source of evil; it murders its own citizens and finances and exports terrorism.”
Healey said Iran had attacked “indiscriminately”, attacking hotels in Dubai and Bahrain as well as an airport in Kuwait.
The action of the USA and Israel caused a difference of opinion in the UK. Emily Thornberry, Labor chair of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said the attack violated international law and she was satisfied that Britain was not involved.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski also condemned the assassination of the Ayatollah and told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that there was no justification for the bombing.
In response, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said it was “surprising” that Keir Starmer “did not step up” and offer more support for the US and Israeli operation. Nigel Farage of Reform Britain took a similar position, writing about X: “The Prime Minister needs to change his mind about the use of our military bases and support the Americans in this vital fight against Iran!”
