The UK government has declined to clarify whether Britain is officially “at war” with Iran, after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper repeatedly avoided answering the question during a television interview.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Cooper sidestepped multiple attempts by the presenter to establish whether the UK’s involvement in the escalating conflict amounts to war.
The exchange comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorised the United States to use British military bases for strikes on Iranian weapons storage facilities and missile launch sites. At the same time, Royal Air Force jets are patrolling the skies in the region with the aim of intercepting Iranian missiles and drones targeting other nations.
Yvette Cooper Dodges ‘Are We At War?’ Question In BBC Interview
During the interview, Kuenssberg pressed Cooper over the UK’s role in the conflict.
“Hasn’t the government actually put the UK in the most awkward of all?” Kuenssberg asked. “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 responded: “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 directly: “Are we at war?”
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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 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 a third time, Kuenssberg asked: “So we’re not at war, or we are at war?”
Cooper answered: “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.”
British Warships Set To Deploy As US Uses UK Bases
The UK’s involvement in the region is expected to increase in the coming days. Two British warships — HMS Dragon and the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales — are scheduled to deploy to the region next week.
The moves follow Washington’s request to use British military bases for operations targeting Iranian missile and weapons infrastructure.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump reportedly told Starmer during a conversation on Saturday night that the United States does not “need people that join wars after we’ve already won”.
The remarks come amid growing scrutiny over Britain’s role in the unfolding crisis and the extent of its military involvement alongside allies.
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