Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, urges Britain to exercise extreme caution before deepening its role in the escalating conflict with Iran.
Mousavi states that Iran maintains a clear “right to self-defence” if the UK joins US and Israeli strikes directly. He stresses that governments must remain “very delicate, very careful” in their decisions.
Britain has authorized US forces to utilize its air bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian sites, while avoiding any direct offensive actions itself.
The ambassador praises this restraint as “good,” suggesting the UK has absorbed key lessons from the 2003 Iraq invasion by staying out of the current aggression.
Ongoing Strikes and Retaliation Threats
Despite an apology from Iran’s president to Gulf neighbors over recent missile launches, Mousavi affirms Iran will continue striking US bases should attacks on his country persist.
In recent remarks, he declares that “facilities or properties or bases used against the Iranian nation” qualify as “legitimate targets.”
Gulf nations such as Qatar and the UAE recently endured Iranian missile impacts. Mousavi underscores Iran’s “willingness not to strike, not to attack our neighbours.” However, he vows retaliation against any regional military installations aiding aggression: “If the aggression continues there is no doubt we will defend ourselves. And if they want to use these military bases, although we don’t want to do that, there is no doubt we will defend ourselves accordingly.”
US and Israeli Airstrikes Intensify
The US and Israel unleash heavy airstrikes on Iran over the past week, striking missile installations, nuclear sites, and eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserts the UK will refrain from involvement but permits US access to British bases for defensive measures.
US heavy bombers land at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday night, as Donald Trump readies a massive assault he dubs “the big one”—a missile barrage aimed at securing Iran’s unconditional surrender.
A suspected drone hits RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on March 1, inflicting minor damage and sparking fears for British assets. The Foreign Office summons Mousavi on March 4 in response.
