Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended the UK's response to the Iran conflict, saying Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is "right to stand up for Britain's interests" after US President Donald Trump intensified his criticism.
Trump had posted on social media, saying the UK was considering sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East but appeared dismissive of the move, writing: "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"
The UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness, but Cooper would not confirm whether it would be sent to the region, according to a report by the BBC.
Response to Trump's Criticism
Cooper responded to Trump's rebuke, saying the UK government would not agree with the president "on every issue". She stated that the UK's job is to decide what's in the UK national interest, and that doesn't mean simply agreeing with other countries or outsourcing foreign policy.
Cooper spoke to Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, emphasizing the importance of making decisions based on what is right for British citizens.
UK Involvement in the Conflict
The UK did not join initial US-Israel strikes on Iran but subsequently gave permission for the US to use British bases to conduct defensive strikes. The UK has also sent RAF jets to the region to shoot down missiles and drones fired by Iran at UK allies.
Former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair suggested the UK should have backed the strikes from the beginning, stating that the US is an "indispensable cornerstone" of the UK's security.
Warnings and Criticisms
The Iranian ambassador in London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, warned the UK to be "very careful" about becoming further involved in the war, stating that facilities or properties used against Iran would be considered "legitimate targets".
Reform UK's Robert Jenrick argued that the government should have let the US use UK bases "from the outset", while Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the government of "a dereliction of duty" by failing to move warships to Cyprus or the Middle East ahead of the conflict.
