Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has dismissed Iran’s “sabre-rattling” as an attempt to intimidate Britain, insisting the UK “stands ready to respond to any attacks Iran wishes to wage against this country or our allies”.
The remarks, in an interview with the BBC, came after the Iranian regime last week declared the UK a legitimate target because of its role supporting the US-led war on Iran. Streeting said Britain should not put “too much stock” in the threat. “I think we shouldn’t put too much stock in the sabre-rattling of Iran, and we certainly shouldn’t be intimidated by what the regime has said this week,” he added.
“Defence secretary warns Iran not to intimidate UK, says Britain ready to respond to any attack.”
The UK has allowed the United States to launch “defensive” operations from British bases hosting American personnel and aircraft, but refuses to cooperate in offensive action. Streeting repeated the government’s longstanding position: “We have not joined and will not join offensive US military action in Iran.”
Where the two countries are aligned, he said, is on securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The UK is ready to lead a naval mission to remove mines from the waterway “when the conditions are right”, Streeting revealed. He stressed the importance of safe shipping routes because of the impact the crisis is having on energy prices and the cost of living.
Streeting also confirmed he is to meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the coming week after “kicking around” ideas to “bring the countries together”. He said he had been “delighted” to speak to Hegseth by phone already.
Turning to Russia, Streeting dismissed a recent live-firing exercise by a Russian warship in the English Channel as “performative”, calling it a “reminder of the frankly unsafe and unprofessional way in which they have been conducting themselves”. Branding the incident “irresponsible”, he said Russia posed a threat to UK security, adding that the public does not see “the enormous efforts that take place every day to counter Russian aggression”.
Separately, Streeting hinted at a “National Care Service” overhaul in comments to Channel 4 News, though he offered no further details on the proposed reform.