Iran FM warns UK counterpart over support for US-Israeli aggression  

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has slammed the stance of the United Kingdom over the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, warning that any kind of support for the war will only heighten tensions.

In a phone conversation with his British counterpart Yvette Cooper, Araghchi noted that Iran came under military attack for the second time while it was engaged in negotiations with the United States over the nuclear issue.

He noted that the US-Israeli aggression, which has martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, several senior officials and hundreds of civilians, violates all international principles and norms.

Araghchi slammed the UK for allowing the US to use it military bases. “These actions will certainly be regarded as participation in aggression and will be recorded in the history of relations between our two countries,” he said.

“At the same time, we reserve our inherent right to defend our sovereignty and independence,” he added.
Iran’s top diplomat warned that any assistance or support provided to the aggressors in the illegal war against Iran will only escalate tensions and “make the circumstance more complex”.

Araghchi also called on UK officials to refrain from any cooperation with the US and the Israeli regime, including providing platforms for “terrorist” TV channels supporting hostile actions against Iranians.

He also strongly criticized the UK and some other countries over their failure to condemn the “dangerous and reckless” attack on the South Pars gas field, while instead condemning Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US-linked facilities in the region.

Pointing out Iran’s inherent right to self‑defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Araghchi said Iran has respected the sovereignty of neighboring countries.

“But, unfortunately, US bases are located in these countries and have been used to attack us, and these countries have failed to meet their international responsibility to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Iran.”

He stressed that the only way to restore normal conditions to the region and the Strait of Hormuz is an end to the aggression, stressing that “any cessation of hostilities must be accompanied by guarantees preventing the repetition of such aggression.”

For her part, the UK foreign secretary emphasized the need to stop the war and reduce tensions in the region, expressing concern about the political and economic consequences of the war at the regional and global levels.

The US and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases and interests in regional countries.

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