Iran warns UK letting US use bases is 'participation in aggression'

Iran's foreign minister has warned the UK it views its choice to let the US use British bases as "participation in aggression," in a phone call with Yvette Cooper.

In his account of the call with the UK foreign secretary, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said he had also criticised the "negative and biased" approach of the UK and demanded that it cease any cooperation with the United States.

The UK did not allow the US to use its bases for initial offensive attacks against Iran but subsequently gave permission for them to be used for defensive action on Iranian missile strikes.

The Foreign Office said Cooper had condemned Iran's "reckless attacks" and its "disruption and closure of the Strait of Hormuz".

A spokesperson said she had also called for "an immediate comprehensive moratorium on all attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations".

"The foreign secretary made clear to the foreign minister that the defensive UK operations in the region were a response to the Iranian aggression against Gulf partners countries who had not attacked Iran.

"The foreign secretary also warned Iran against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly and restated the UK's focus on regional stability and security."

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly and vehemently criticised the UK for not getting more involved in the conflict.

British PM Sir Keir Starmer has defended his stance, saying: "It is for me to act in what I consider to be the best interests of Britain".

Araghchi posted his summary of the conversation with the UK's foreign secretary in a post in Farsi on the social media site Telegram.

He said he told Cooper: "These actions will definitely be considered as participation in aggression and will be recorded in the history of relations between the two countries.

"At the same time, we reserve our inherent right to defend the country's sovereignty and independence."

He also said he criticised the UK for condemning Iran's "retaliatory action" following Israel's attack on the South Pars natural gas field in Iran.

Tehran responded to the strike by targeting an energy complex in Qatar.

Earlier this week Trump urged countries including the UK to support efforts to reopen the oil shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz.

The number of ships passing through the strait has plummeted since the conflict began, with Iran threatening to attack certain vessels with drones and missiles.

The blockage has caused a dramatic rise in the price of oil and gas prices, triggering turbulence in the financial markets.

Sir Keir has said he is working with allies on a "viable, collective plan" to reopen the strait.

He has warned that the longer the conflict continues, "the bigger the impact on the cost of living," adding that "the best way forward is a negotiated settlement with Iran".

The Green Party of England and Wales has urged the UK government to withdraw permission for the US to use its military bases for attacks on Iran and "refuse any further complicity in this illegal war".

In a letter to the prime minister, Green Party MPs and peers ask the government to set out what action it was taking to ensure military bases were only being used for defensive purposes.

It also asked for an assessment of how many Iranian civilians had been killed by "US bombing missions from British air bases".