ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United Kingdom on Monday warned against attacks on American or British assets in the region amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The warning comes as concerns are on the rise that some pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups may launch such attacks to ease pressure on Tehran.
In a phone call with Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned of “the danger of any attacks on American or British forces deployed in the region, regardless of the perpetrator,” according to a statement from Iraqi foreign ministry.
“The United Kingdom believes that diplomatic solutions are the only way to avoid further escalation,” Lammy said, praising “Iraq’s role in this regard despite the sensitivity of its geographical location and the complexities of the regional situation.”
The senior British diplomat stressed "his country's support for the stability of Iraq, and the necessity of sidelining it from any attacks or conflicts."
Israel on Friday launched a massive aerial assault on Iran, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran has fired waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, hitting vital targets in the northern port city of Haifa and the central economic hub of Tel Aviv.
Lammy’s remarks come as concerns mount that Iraqi armed groups aligned with Tehran, or belonging to the Iran-led ‘Axis of Resistance,’ could enter the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, particularly by targeting American assets - given the United States' close alliance with Israel.
While no such group has so far signaled intent to act, the powerful pro-Iran Iraqi group, Kata’ib Hezbollah, stated on Sunday that it is closely monitoring the movements of US forces. It warned that any American intervention in the conflict would prompt the group to directly target US interests and military bases across the region.
The group also voiced strong support for Iran against what it described as “Zionist aggression.”
The British foreign minister further emphasized the importance of Iran “returning to nuclear negotiations” with the US, reaffirming the UK's belief that “diplomatic solutions are the only path to avoid further escalation.”
The Israeli military action came just two days ahead of the sixth session of talks between Iran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday. The two sides have been engaged in Oman-mediated, indirect nuclear negotiations since April 12.
However, Iranian officials canceled their participation in the sixth round, calling the talks “meaningless” in light of continued Israeli attacks. Despite this, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state media on Sunday that “an end to Israel’s aggression would pave the way for renewed diplomatic engagement” with Washington.
For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hussein warned that the continuation of the Israel-Iran conflict could trigger severe regional and global repercussions.
“There is no winner in this war,” Hussein said, condemning repeated Israeli violations of Iraqi airspace, which he described as “a blatant breach of sovereignty and international law.”
The Iraqi foreign minister also warned that the conflict could expand to the Strait of Hormuz, potentially sparking a global economic crisis.
On Sunday, Iranian lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari told Iran’s state-run English broadcaster Press TV that Tehran is considering closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli military attacks - an act that could have major implications for global oil supplies.
“Iran is considering blocking the Hormuz Strait in the Persian Gulf, through which more than 17 million barrels of oil pass every day,” Kowsari reportedly said.
In his phone call with the Iraqi foreign minister, Lammy warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would lead to a major economic crisis for Europe and the UK, fueling inflation and disrupting global trade.
