The situation in the Middle East is deeply worrying and a fast-moving situation.
The safety and security of British nationals rightly remain the Government’s top priority and the Foreign Office has set out clear guidelines and advice for those in the region which I urge constituents to follow.
For years, the Iranian regime has brutally oppressed its people, innocent people have suffered horrendously, protestors killed and imprisoned. It is murderous and despotic. We saw this most recently in January when the regime’s brutal crackdown on protests saw them murder 50,000 of their own citizens according to some estimates. Anyone who believes in human rights and democracy can have no sadness about the death of Ayatollah Khamenei who has presided over so much misery. The regime also threatens UK security and has consistently tried to undermine the UK’s democratic institutions and threatened ordinary citizens.
At the same time, the strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, without clear authorisation under international law, are yet another step away from the rules-based order that the world spent decades trying to build.
However, I am also deeply concerned that, in response, Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region at countries, including our partners, who did not attack them. Our Armed Forces who are located across the region are also being put at risk by Iran’s actions.
As the Prime Minister has said, the reality is that Iran is putting British people at huge risk along with our allies across the region. Our duty must be first to protect British lives.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK had no involvement in the strikes carried out by the US and Israel which I welcome. He has also confirmed that the UK has agreed to permit the US to use British bases only for the specific and limited defensive purposes of targeting missile storage depots and launchers – which have now threatened British citizens, military personnel and regional partners. It is important that this decision is kept under review.
There are no easy answers here; this is a complex situation. Ultimately, the region and the world need a negotiated settlement in which Iran must give up aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon. Britain must continue to uphold international law and work in the best interests of our country and our citizens.