LONDON – The United Kingdom declared Saturday that Iran cannot be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons and expressed readiness to protect its interests after military strikes were carried out by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.
According to government sources, Britain did not participate in the military action, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to convene an emergency COBRA meeting on Saturday to address the situation.
“Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution,” a British government spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson further explained, “As part of our longstanding commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we have recently bolstered. We stand ready to protect our interests.”
British officials emphasized their desire to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader regional conflict, according to the spokesperson’s remarks.
The government indicated that protecting British citizens in the area remains their top concern, with consular services being made available as needed.
Travel advisories were also updated Saturday, with Britain now recommending against all travel to Israel and Palestinian territories, strengthening their previous Friday guidance that had only discouraged non-essential travel to those areas.
