Streeting condemns Iran for labelling RAF and Royal Navy terrorist organisations

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting accused Iran of “bare-faced cheek” after Tehran branded the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organisations.

The Iranian action, which also included labelling MI6 a “hostile group” came in response to the British decision to outlaw support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Responding to Tehran’s move, Mr Streeting said Iran had a record of state-sponsored terrorism.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin he said: “The charge levelled at the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by Iran doesn’t really dignify a response, except to say that I’m minded to take the press clippings and put them up in my downstairs toilet as a trophy.

“More seriously, I think Iran has some bare-faced cheek, given the extent to which they fuel regional instability, the way in which they engage in state-sponsored acts of terrorism.

“We’re mindful of the incident at RAF Fairford.

“And frankly, in terms of the threats coming from Tehran, we saw in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran just how quickly Iran engaged in strikes against its neighbouring countries who had nothing to do with US combat operations.”

He said the UK had maintained diplomatic channels with Iran and was working towards de-escalation in the Middle East.

“We have always tried to point Iran towards the diplomatic alternative that exists, and we’ll continue to do so,” the Defence Secretary said.

The foreign ministry in Tehran announced the designations for the RAF, Royal Navy and Secret Intelligence Service on Sunday “in response to the British government’s hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“The British government shall bear responsibility for their consequences,” the foreign ministry said.