Wes Streeting: UK not afraid of Iran’s ‘sabre rattling’

Asked if Iran had the capacity to attack the UK, Streeting said: “I don’t think we should put too much stock in Iran’s sabre-rattling, and we shouldn’t be intimidated by what the regime has said this week.”

He reiterated that the United Kingdom’s position since the start of the US war on Iran was that “we have not cooperated and will not join US military action in Iran.”

“This is an area where we disagree with the United States, but when it comes to freedom of navigation and free trade directly in Hormuz, we are fully aligned.”

Streeting said he would meet with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next week after “tossing around” ideas to “unite nations” and said he was “excited” to speak with Hegseth on the phone.

He also said the UK was ready to lead a naval mission to help clear mines off the coast of Hormuz “when conditions are right”.

He said the impact of the crisis on energy prices and cost of living made it necessary to ensure reliable transport routes in the area.

Street behavior is also rejected a The Russian warship recently conducted a live firing exercise in the English Channel As “practical,” he added, “it reminds me of the unsafe and unprofessional way they’ve been doing themselves.”

Describing the Channel incident as “irresponsible”, he said Russia was a threat to UK security, adding that the public was “ignoring the massive efforts being made every day to counter Russian aggression”.