Araghchi Warns UK Military Support Against Iran Would Constitute an ‘Act of Aggression’
Dragon Media News Desk
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned that allowing the United States to use British territory, military bases or other facilities to attack Iran would be regarded as an act of aggression under international law.
According to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Friday. He said any assistance provided to those attacking Iran, even under existing defence agreements, would be unacceptable.
Araghchi criticized what he described as Britain’s unjustified and inappropriate policy toward Iran. He urged London to reconsider its approach, citing the designation of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps as a threat to British national security and alleging British involvement in recent military actions carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran.
He said that permitting a country’s territory or facilities to be used for an unlawful attack against another sovereign state constitutes an act of aggression under international law. In such circumstances, the targeted state retains the right to exercise self-defence, he added.
Araghchi said Iran had entered diplomatic negotiations with the United States in good faith and had signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the conflict. He accused Washington, however, of failing to fulfil its commitments.
He also said Iran was working with Oman to establish operational mechanisms for managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Any interference by third parties would further complicate the situation in the strategic waterway, he warned.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Miliband said Britain was not involved in the war against Iran and maintained that diplomacy remained the proper path for resolving disputes.
The conversation took place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in West Asia, bringing the possible use of British military facilities back into the centre of diplomatic debate.
