UK’s Streeting says Iran’s threats will not intimidate Britain

Britain ready to lead mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK should not be intimidated by Iranian threats of attack, after the Iranian regime declared the country a “legitimate target” because of its role supporting the US-Israel war on Iran.

Speaking to the BBC, Streeting said Britain should not put “too much stock” in what Iran had said. “We stand ready to respond to any attacks Iran wishes to wage against this country or our allies and we will continue to do that,” he said.

Asked whether Iran had the capability to strike the UK, Streeting said: “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.”

Streeting repeated the UK’s position from the outset of the US war against Iran, stating that “we have not joined and will not join offensive US military action in Iran.” He described the area where Britain disagrees with the United States, but said the two countries are “absolutely aligned” when it comes to securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK has allowed the US to launch “defensive” operations from British bases hosting American personnel and aircraft while refusing to cooperate in offensive operations against Iran, according to the BBC.

Streeting said he is to meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the coming week after “kicking around” ideas for ways “to bring the countries together” and said he had been “delighted” to speak to Hegseth by phone already.

He also said the UK is ready to lead a naval mission to help remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz “when the conditions are right.” Securing safe shipping routes through the area was important because of the impact the crisis is having on energy prices and the cost of living, he added.

Beyond Iran, Streeting dismissed a Russian warship’s recent live-firing exercise in the English Channel as “performative” but said it was a “reminder of the frankly unsafe and unprofessional way in which they have been conducting themselves.” Branding the Channel incident “irresponsible,” Streeting 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.”