UK, France condemn Iran's retaliation, summon Iranian diplomats

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
14 Apr 2024 23:40

Both France and the UK reiterated support for "Israel", calling only on Iran to de-escalate.

Illustrative photo of ground forces from the U.S., U.K. and Jordan participate in war games in the desert of Jebel Petra, near Aqaba seaport, south of Amman, Jordan, Thursday, June 5, 2014 (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

The United Kingdom has summoned the Iranian embassy's charge d'affaires in London in opposition to Iran's retaliatory attack against "Israel" on Saturday evening.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement that "The UK condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel, as well as their violation of Jordan and Iraq’s airspace."

The UK regarded Iran's retaliation operation responding to Israeli attacks as a "profoundly dangerous and unnecessary escalation", calling only on Tehran to de-escalate the situation immediately.

Moreover, the UK affirmed its determination to support and protect "Israel's" security, saying it would cooperate with the so-called international partners to ensure the Middle East's stability, according to the spokesperson.

Earlier, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed in a video on X that the UK airforce intercepted and downed several Iranian drones launched at "Israel".

Sunak strongly denounced Iran's drone and missile retaliatory strike on "Israel," at an earlier hour in the day, alleging his nation and its partners were working to calm the situation and "prevent further escalation."

Iran’s attack last night was a dangerous and unnecessary escalation.

I want to pay tribute to the professionalism and bravery of the @RoyalAirForce and our allies in protecting civilians. pic.twitter.com/UEFzTBNJld
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 14, 2024

France also announced that it is summoning Iran's ambassador for the same reason, vowing a firm approach, the French foreign minister revealed on Sunday.

"I have asked the foreign ministry to summon the ambassador of Iran tomorrow to express... a message of firmness," Stephane Sejourne said on France 2, adding that it was "the Iranians who attacked Israel".

In turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France to Tehran for their nations' "irresponsible" position on Iranian retaliatory strikes against "Israel", according to Iranian media on Sunday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's director for Western Europe criticized European countries for using double standards by not criticizing the Israeli occupation's bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.