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Attorney general warns UK joining war on Iran may be illegal UK urged to publish legal advice on involvement in Israel-Iran war
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Richard Hermer is understood to have said Britain must limit its involvement to defending allies Calls follow news that attorney general advised government to limit its involvement to defending allies
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Britain’s attorney general has warned ministers that any involvement in Israel’s war against Iran beyond offering defensive support could be illegal, it has emerged. Ministers are facing calls to publish legal advice given to the government on Israel’s war against Iran after reports emerged that the attorney general had warned that any UK involvement beyond defensive support would be illegal.
Richard Hermer, the government’s most senior legal officer, is reported to have raised concerns internally about the legality of joining a bombing campaign against Iran.Richard Hermer, the government’s most senior legal officer, is reported to have raised concerns internally about the legality of joining a bombing campaign against Iran.
An official who has seen Hermer’s official legal advice told the Spectator, which first reported the story, that “the AG has concerns about the UK playing any role in this except for defending our allies”. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the government should publish Hermer’s advice. “The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US,” he said.
An official who had seen Hermer’s official legal advice told the Spectator, which first reported the story, that “the AG has concerns about the UK playing any role in this except for defending our allies”.
So far the UK has not played any role, and has not been involved in repelling Iranian missiles directed at Israel.
Keir Starmer is considering whether to provide the US with military support if Donald Trump decides to bomb Iran, and whether to approve the use of the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for the attack. Hermer’s advice could limit the degree of UK support for the US.Keir Starmer is considering whether to provide the US with military support if Donald Trump decides to bomb Iran, and whether to approve the use of the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for the attack. Hermer’s advice could limit the degree of UK support for the US.
A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said: “By longstanding convention, reflected in the ministerial code, [the question of] whether the law officers have been asked to provide legal advice and the content of any advice is not routinely disclosed.A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said: “By longstanding convention, reflected in the ministerial code, [the question of] whether the law officers have been asked to provide legal advice and the content of any advice is not routinely disclosed.
“The convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.”“The convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.”
The prime minister chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to discuss a range of scenarios and ongoing diplomatic efforts. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is to meet his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, in Washington DC on Thursday as the US weighs up its options. The prime minister chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to discuss a range of scenarios and ongoing diplomatic efforts. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is to meet Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, in Washington DC on Thursday as the US weighs up its options.
Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to launch strikes against Iran. The Guardian reported that the president had suggested to defence officials it would make sense to do so only if the so-called bunker buster bomb was guaranteed to destroy the country’s critical uranium enrichment facility, which is between 80 and 90 metres inside a mountain at Fordow. Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to launch strikes against Iran. The president has suggested to defence officials it would make sense to do so only if the so-called bunker buster bomb is guaranteed to destroy the country’s critical uranium enrichment facility, which is between 80 and 90 metres inside a mountain at Fordow.
Israel and Iran have been exchanging fire for days after Israel launched airstrikes which it said were aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials claim the country’s nuclear programme is peaceful and that Israel has caused hundreds of civilian casualties. Israel and Iran have been exchanging fire for days after Israel launched airstrikes that it said were aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials claim their nuclear programme is peaceful and that Israel has caused hundreds of civilian casualties.
Taking Fordow offline – either diplomatically or militarily – is seen as central to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons after the International Atomic Energy Agency found the site had enriched uranium to 83.7% – close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. Taking Fordow offline – either diplomatically or militarily – is seen as central to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, after the International Atomic Energy Agency found that the site had enriched uranium to 83.7%, close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, an energy minister, said Starmer would take any decisions with a “cool, calm head” and be guided by international law.Miatta Fahnbulleh, an energy minister, said Starmer would take any decisions with a “cool, calm head” and be guided by international law.
“Legal advice is for the prime minister, and I think that’s where it will stay – and you can understand why I won’t comment on that,” she told Times Radio. “But what I will say is that we have a prime minister who is a lawyer and a human rights lawyer, he will obviously do everything that is in accord with international law. “Legal advice is for the prime minister and I think that’s where it will stay, and you can understand why I won’t comment on that,” she told Times Radio. “But what I will say is that we have a prime minister who is a lawyer, and a human rights lawyer, he will obviously do everything that is in accord with international law.
“No one wants an escalation. No one wants this to erupt into a major conflict in the region that is hugely destabilising for every country involved, and for us globally. So the most important role that the prime minister can play, and is playing, is to be that cool, calm head, to urge all partners around the negotiating table and to find a diplomatic route out of this.”“No one wants an escalation. No one wants this to erupt into a major conflict in the region that is hugely destabilising for every country involved, and for us globally. So the most important role that the prime minister can play, and is playing, is to be that cool, calm head, to urge all partners around the negotiating table and to find a diplomatic route out of this.”
However, the shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, said the UK could “hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis”.However, the shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, said the UK could “hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis”.
Asked if she believed Hermer was right to sound a warning, Patel told Times Radio: “I don’t think we can hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis and national security when we have to work alongside our biggest ally in the world, the United States, when they look to us for potentially … setting out operational activities through our own military bases.”Asked if she believed Hermer was right to sound a warning, Patel told Times Radio: “I don’t think we can hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis and national security when we have to work alongside our biggest ally in the world, the United States, when they look to us for potentially … setting out operational activities through our own military bases.”
The UK had not received a formal request from the US to use Diego Garcia in the southern Indian Ocean or any of its other airbases to bomb Iran as of Wednesday night. As of Wednesday night the UK had not received a formal request from the US to use Diego Garcia, in the southern Indian Ocean, or any of its other airbases to bomb Iran.
Diego Garcia was recently the subject of a new 99-year lease agreement with Mauritius that left the UK in full operational control of the military base. In practice, Diego Garcia is mainly used by the US, but the fact that it is ultimately a British base means Starmer would have to approve its use for an attack on Iran.Diego Garcia was recently the subject of a new 99-year lease agreement with Mauritius that left the UK in full operational control of the military base. In practice, Diego Garcia is mainly used by the US, but the fact that it is ultimately a British base means Starmer would have to approve its use for an attack on Iran.
It is thought the US would probably want to request the use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for its air tankers, which are used to refuel B-2 bombers. The UK has deployed 14 Typhoon jets at Akrotiri to protect its bases and forces and to help regional allies, such as Cyprus and Oman, if they come under attack. It is thought the US would probably want to request the use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for its air tankers, which are used to refuel B-2 bombers. The UK has deployed 14 Typhoon jets at Akrotiri to protect its bases and forces and be ready to help regional allies such as Cyprus and Oman if they come under attack.