UK will stay out of offensive action against Iran, says minister

UK will stay out of offensive action against Iran, says ministerUS President Donald Trump said American forces would attack Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz.The US has continued to carry out strikes on Iran, while President Donald Trump has threatened further escalation if the vital Strait of Hormuz is not reopened (Francisco Seco/AP)AP

The UK will not engage in offensive operations against Iran, a Cabinet minister has reiterated following Donald Trump’s threat to bomb the country’s civilian infrastructure.

In an expletive-laden social media post on Sunday, the US president said American forces would attack Iranian power plants and bridges from Tuesday if Tehran did not reopen the vital shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump’s message sparked accusations that the president was threatening to commit war crimes.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Donald Trump’s actions were ‘not language or an approach that this Government would be taking’ (Aaron Chown/PA)PA Wire

Asked about his comments on Monday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said it was up to Mr Trump to explain his choice of words and his approach to the conflict.

She said: “It is not language or an approach that this Government would be taking.”

Ms Phillipson added: “Our approach as a UK Government, the approach that the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out, is that we are not getting involved in offensive action, we won’t be getting involved in offensive action.”

So far, the UK has limited its involvement in the Iran conflict to defensive action, with RAF jets flying sorties to protect Gulf allies against drone attacks.

Donald Trump has previously demanded other countries send ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (Niall Carson/PA)PA Wire

Sir Keir Starmer has also given permission for the US to use British bases to launch strikes against Iranian missile sites threatening allies in the region, or shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran’s effective blockade of the strait has become a major factor in the war, causing serious disruption to oil supplies and threatening to destabilise the global economy.

Mr Trump has previously demanded other countries send ships to reopen the strait.

But while the UK is leading on plans for a deployment to secure the shipping lane, operations are unlikely to take place before a ceasefire, given the high risk posed to vessels by Iranian forces in the area.