Yvette Cooper Avoids Answer On UK At War In Iran

Yvette Cooper has refused to say whether the UK is “at war” in Iran.

The foreign secretary repeatedly dodged the question on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Keir Starmer has given the US permission to use British bases to target Iranian weapons storage facilities and missile launch sites.

RAF jets are also patrolling the skies in the region looking to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones targeted at other countries.

However, Cooper would not be drawn on whether that meant the UK was at war or not.

Kuenssberg asked her: “Hasn’t the government actually put the UK in the most awkward of all? We’re neither taking part in this war in the wholehearted way that some of our closest allies would want us to, but you’re also facilitating the war in a way that many people watching will think is dangerous and wrong?”

Cooper said: “I think that reflects the complexity and the reality of the kinds of security issues we face and I think most people across the country know there’s not just a simplistic world out there that we can just pick and choose from and think that all of our decisions are easy.”

The presenter then asked her: “Are we at war?”

Cooper replied: “It is complex the situation we are facing, so of course we didn’t provide the support for the initial strikes that took place, but we are responding and taking action, including military action, to provide defensive support to partner countries.”

Kuenssberg asked her again: “Are we at war?”

The foreign secretary said: “We are providing defensive support in a conflict, and that I think is the way to describe it.”

For the final time, Kuenssberg asked: “So we’re not at war, or we are at war?”

Cooper said: “We want to see resolution of this conflict as swiftly as possible, but our armed forces, our RAF, they are flying defensive strike action against the drones and attacks that those countries are facing.”

Two British warships – HMS Dragon and the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales – are expected to set sail to the region next week.

But on Saturday night, Trump told Starmer the US doesn’t “need people that join wars after we’ve already won”.