UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy refuses to say if Trump’s Iran strike was legal or right, raising concerns over Britain’s stance on US military actions.
As reported by The Independent, the foreign secretary distanced the UK from Mr Trump’s Iran attack, declining to support or justify the move.
What did David Lammy say about the US strike on Iran?
When asked repeatedly on BBC Radio 4 whether the US strike was legal, David Lammy declined to give a clear answer.
Mr Lammy insisted,
“We were not involved; it is for the Americans to discuss those legal issues.”
Critics warn the issue could weaken the UK’s stance on Russia’s violation of international law in Ukraine.
Pressed further, Mr Lammy still avoided saying whether the US airstrikes by B-2 stealth bombers were justified.
Mr Webb repeated the question,
“Was it the right call?”
The foreign secretary responded,
“What I’ve said is that ultimately this can only be dealt with in diplomacy.”
Other senior ministers also avoided giving clear answers on the fast-moving Middle East situation.
What did Luke Pollard say about the US strikes on Iran?
Armed forces minister Luke Pollard declined to say whether Britain supports the US attack on Iran, stating it was “not for him to comment” on American military moves.
When asked about the UK’s stance on the US strikes in Iran, Mr Pollard said, “Well, it’s not for me to comment on the particular US action, but we’re assessing the battle damage at the moment to understand the true extent of the strikes.”
He stated,
“But our focus and the work that we are doing in conjunction with our US allies, as well as those across Europe, is to put the pressure on the Iranian regime to get back to negotiating because a diplomatic solution is how we bring this crisis to an end.”
Asked if it was his responsibility to speak on international military actions, Mr Pollard responded,
“I’m not going to be able to comment on that question, but what we can say is that we were not involved in the military action that the US took.”
He said Britain remains focused on urging
“Iranian regime to get back to negotiations because a diplomatic solution is how we bring this crisis to an end, with Iran not able to create a nuclear weapon, handing over their nuclear materials that they possess, and giving commitments that they won’t threaten regional stability by developing a nuclear weapon in the future.”
What did Keir Starmer say about the US strikes on Iran?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported President Trump’s decision to launch strikes on Iranian targets on 22 June.
He stated in a statement,
“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.”
Labour leader said,
“The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”
What did Kemi Badenoch say about the US strikes on Iran?
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said,
“By targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, the US has taken decisive action against a regime that fuels global terror and directly threatens the UK.”
She added,
“Iranian operatives have plotted murders and attacks on British soil. We should stand firmly with the US and Israel.”
What did European leaders say about Iran’s nuclear threat?
In a joint statement, Keir Starmer, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz stated, it was
“clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security”. They said their joint aim was to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and called on Tehran to address all concerns associated with the nuclear programme.”
They added,
“We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties. We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region. We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further.”