British officials knew of 'Israel’s' plan to strike Iran: Sky News
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UK officials were reportedly aware in advance of the major Israeli attack on Iran targeting nuclear, military, and civilian sites.
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Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran on June 13, 2025. (AP)
Officials within the British Foreign Office and Ministry of Defense were reportedly aware in advance of "Israel's" planned attack on Iran, though it remains unclear whether the Israeli government formally notified the UK, according to Whitehall sources.
Initially, one source suggested the UK had not been informed, noting that Foreign Secretary David Lammy canceled a planned trip to the United States to meet with his American counterparts at the last minute this morning t
However, two separate Whitehall sources indicated that government officials had been expecting the Israeli strikes as of yesterday.
It is still uncertain whether this information came through official diplomatic channels or via informal means, according to Sky News.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister declined to comment on whether Keir Starmer had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to the strikes.
Top Western leaders have called for restraint in the wake of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Iranian territory. Brutal strikes targeted military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure and led to multiple casualties. Yet, while urging de-escalation, these leaders have largely avoided condemning “Israel’s” violation of international law, choosing instead to direct their diplomatic pressure on Tehran not to retaliate.
The double standard is stark: while Iran has consistently operated within the framework of international law and the UN Charter, the Israeli entity has carried out cross-border aggression with impunity. Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran has a recognized legal right to self-defense, a point absent from most Western statements.
Pezeshkian vows devastating response to 'Israel's' aggression
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran would deliver a powerful and legitimate response to "Israel's" act of aggression, warning that the enemy will deeply regret its actions.
"Israel" launched a major attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday, targeting residential buildings, nuclear facilities, and military infrastructure across Iran.
In a televised address to the nation, Pezeshkian clarified that Iran would not remain silent in the face of "Israel's" criminal and internationally unlawful attack.
“The Iranian nation and the country's officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish action,” he declared.
The Iranian president condemned the Israeli aggression as a blatant violation of international norms, describing it as yet another example of the Zionist regime’s criminal behavior.
“The aggression was in violation of all international obligations and displayed the savage and criminal nature of the child-killing and aggressive Zionist regime on the international stage,” Pezeshkian said.
