Iran Warns Britain Against U.S. Military Cooperation

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United Kingdom against providing military cooperation to the United States for strikes on Iran during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Friday. Araghchi stated that allowing territory and facilities to be used for illegal attacks constitutes an act of aggression and grants the attacked state the right to self-defense.

Araghchi criticized the British government for designating the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps as a national security threat and for its complicity in conflicts led by the U.S. and Israel. While Miliband maintained that Britain is not involved in the war, Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently approved the continued U.S. use of British military bases for operations related to Iran.

The diplomatic friction follows joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on February 28 that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other commanders. In response, Iran launched missile and drone retaliations and increased its control over the Strait of Hormuz, where it is currently establishing shipping traffic mechanisms with Oman.