Leader of the opposition in the United Kingdom and head of the Conservative Party (UK), Kemi Badenoch, has called on the UK government to join the United States in taking firm action against Iran.
Badenoch made the remarks after Iran reportedly attacked UK bases in the Middle East.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said the UK must act decisively to prevent further escalation.
“We need to do everything we can to stop these attacks from happening,” she stated.
She added that the UK should pay closer attention to concerns raised by regional allies, suggesting that some countries feel Britain has not been sufficiently supportive.
“I think we should listen to what our allies in the region are saying… They think that we’re abandoning them. If your main idea is that we will only take action when we are attacked instead of handling possible dangers as they come, then we will end up in a lot of trouble,” Badenoch said.
Addressing concerns about the risk of a wider conflict, the Conservative leader maintained that decisive action does not necessarily mean escalating war.
“Being realistic doesn’t mean being overly eager. I don’t want a wider war. Sometimes the best way to calm a situation down is to try to finish it quickly, instead of letting it go on and on because you don’t want to get involved,” she added.
Her comments come amid heightened tensions in the region and ongoing debates within the UK over the appropriate response to Iran’s actions.
