Britain announces readiness of its armed forces to counter Iranian threats - Sarmad

Britain said on Thursday that its armed forces are on standby to defend the country against any attack, following a threat issued by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding the possibility of allowing American bombers to operate from British bases.

A government spokesperson stated, “Our armed forces are ready to safeguard the United Kingdom and protect it from any type of attack, whether on our territory or from abroad. The United Kingdom is on constant alert to defend itself around the clock.”

The spokesperson added, “This is achieved through a multi-layered air and missile defense approach, in which the UK relies on assets from the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force. These assets are equipped with a range of advanced capabilities and operate in close coordination with our allies in the North Atlantic Alliance.”

The UK had previously announced the withdrawal of its remaining diplomatic staff from Iran, as the United States continues its airstrikes amid renewed clashes between the two sides since July 7.

The British Foreign Office clarified that the embassy, which closed its doors in January, continues to operate remotely.

An update published on Wednesday on the Foreign Office’s travel guidance page stated, “Due to the security situation, British staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran.” The ministry did not specify the number of personnel affected by this measure.

A similar measure was taken in February, prior to the start of US-Israeli attacks against Iran.

The Foreign Office advised against all travel to Iran, emphasizing that British citizens and dual British-Iranian nationals face a “high risk of arrest, questioning, or detention.”

Britons Craig Forrester and his wife Lindsay were detained in Iran in January 2025 while on a world tour by motorcycle.

They were sentenced in February to ten years in prison on espionage charges, which they deny. The family reported on July 15 that Craig Forrester’s prison sentence had been extended by an additional two years.