'Simply not true': UK denies being dragged into war, says foreign secretary
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy pushed back against reports that the UK had been drawn into the military campaign in an interview with the BBC.
Europe — March 2, 2026
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Monday that claims the United Kingdom is being 'dragged into' the US-led war against Iran are 'simply not true,' insisting London has not participated in any military strikes.
Lammy made the remarks in a combative BBC interview, where he was pressed repeatedly on the presence of British intelligence officers at US Central Command and reports of UK surveillance aircraft operating in the region.
'Britain shares intelligence with allies as we always do. That is entirely different from participating in military strikes. We have not been involved in the decision to strike Iran and we are not carrying out strikes,' Lammy said.
Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch demanded an emergency parliamentary debate, accusing the government of 'deliberate obfuscation' about the extent of British involvement.
The Stop the War Coalition announced a major demonstration outside Parliament scheduled for Thursday, anticipating a large turnout given public unease about UK proximity to the conflict.
Downing Street released a brief statement reiterating that 'UK forces have not participated in operations against Iran' while calling for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.
