UK’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has said that Royal Air Force jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites if they pose a threat to British targets.
Lammy made the remarks during a series of media interviews, suggesting that the United Kingdom could take military action in response to attacks or imminent threats from Iran.
“I’m not here to act as a lawyer but I think your viewers understand that in response to being attacked yes we can take down sites that are anticipating attacking our people,” Lammy said in an interview with the BBC. “It is my understanding that would be legal,” he added.
The comments appeared to signal a tougher stance as tensions escalate in the region, although government officials later played down the idea that the UK had changed its position on direct military involvement.
Earlier, UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer had limited Britain’s role to allowing the United States to use British-controlled bases to launch operations against Iranian targets. One such base is Diego Garcia, which has reportedly been used by American forces to conduct strikes.
A summary of the government’s legal advice released this week stated that Britain could only carry out strikes if they were necessary to respond to an ongoing armed attack.
Despite this, opposition figures from the Conservative Party accused the government of shifting its stance. Kemi Badenoch said Lammy’s remarks amounted to a policy reversal. “David Lammy has just U-turned and changed the Government’s position on striking Iran’s ability to attack our bases and our allies. Good,” she said. “If this is their new position I welcome it, it is the Conservative position and what I called for at PMQs this week.”
Meanwhile, John Healey said Britain had not ruled out joining strikes in the future if the conflict escalates. “As circumstances in any conflict change, you’ve got to be willing to adapt the action you take,” he said.
Lammy’s media appearances also attracted criticism after he mistakenly said Cyprus was a member of NATO and referred to RAF fighter jets as “Tycoons” instead of Typhoons. The comments came as the wider conflict intensified following major military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iranian forces.
Pete Hegseth said American air operations were expected to increase as more aircraft were deployed to the region.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump issued a warning to members of Iran’s military and security forces. “I’m once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and the police to lay down their arms,” Trump said during remarks at the White House. “Accept immunity, we’ll give you immunity. You’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death.”
