UK ‘shouldn’t be surprised’ Iran has retaliated after Tehran targets Diego Garcia base
Britain is now “involved” in the US-Iran war and “no surprise” Tehran is retaliating after two ballistic missiles were fired at the US-UK Diego Garcia military base, a former defense chief has said.
Britain responded and accused Iran of “reckless attacks” that posed a threat to British interests and allies; He said RAF jets and other UK military assets continued to “defend our people and personnel in the region”.
On Friday night, Britain gave Donald Trump the green light to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
Downing Street said such action would still amount to “collective self-defence”, emphasizing that it would not mean Britain was being drawn into a wider conflict.
Iran reacted angrily to the announcement, with its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, saying he would “exercise his right to self-defense”.
In his post on his old Twitter account,
General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command, said: “We may not have wanted to be involved, but now we are.”
Sir Richard told the BBC’s Today programme: “Iran and the UK have been at loggerheads for a very long time… (They) view the UK as an enemy, so if you are seen to be participating in any way in this US-Israeli act of aggression, then they will openly respond. We shouldn’t be surprised.”
Iran’s unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia is understood to have happened before the UK updated how the US could use the bases.
But this followed Iran’s earlier warning that Britain was in the line of fire.
General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command, said: “We may not have wanted to be involved, but now we are.”
Sir Richard told the BBC’s Today programme: “Iran and the UK have been at loggerheads for a very long time… (They) view the UK as an enemy, so if you are seen to be participating in any way in this US-Israeli act of aggression, then they will openly respond. We shouldn’t be surprised.”
Meanwhile, Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, as well as the Greens and Liberal Democrats, have also called for a parliamentary vote against the use of UK bases in the Iran war.
President Trump also lashed out, saying the UK “needs to move much faster” on granting permission to the US.
He has already stepped up pressure on NATO allies, calling them “cowards” for refusing to offer warships to reopen the Bosphorus.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “Iran’s reckless attacks across the region and holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage are a threat to British interests and British allies.
“RAF jets and other UK military assets continue to defend our people and personnel in the region. This government has given the US permission to use British bases for specific and limited defense operations.”
This is breaking news, more to come…
