The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said the UK should not become involved in the growing conflict with Iran, warning it could worsen the cost-of-living crisis and lead to wider instability.
In a statement, Khan said Prime Minister Keir Starmer was right to resist pressure from the US to join military strikes against Iran.
His comments come after rising tensions between Israel and Iran, with the United States also launching military action in the region.
According to the BBC, explosions were reported at one of Tehran’s main commercial airports, with witnesses saying a plane was seen burning on the runway. Israel said it had carried out a new wave of strikes on Iranian targets.
Elsewhere in the region, flights at Dubai International Airport have partially resumed after earlier disruption. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has also said Tehran would not attack neighbouring countries “unless attacked first”.
Khan said the UK should avoid being drawn further into the conflict and warned of the consequences at home.
He said: “This is a war of choice – one that is not only causing needless killing and suffering abroad, but could lead to a huge economic shock at home, massively worsening the cost-of-living crisis for Londoners.
“Households in our city – and across the country – cannot afford the soaring energy bills, food prices and increase in their mortgages that this reckless war could result in. The good progress this Government has made to bring inflation under control could be undone.”
He added that while the Iranian regime should be condemned, military escalation was not the right approach.
“While the brutal Iranian regime should rightly be condemned and international pressure applied, the US and Israeli action is not the right course to follow. The US have launched this military action, even though it will do so much damage to our economy and those of our closest allies.”
Khan said Britain should focus on protecting its citizens and allies, rather than becoming involved in a wider war.
“This war against Iran is being waged unilaterally without any international consensus or UN approval, or any serious thought or strategy as to what comes next. We know from experience it is much easier to start a war than end one.”
He added: “My thoughts are with Londoners and UK citizens in the region and all the innocent civilians caught up in this senseless bloodshed – including the 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in an airstrike in Minab – as well as all the Londoners who will be terrified about the safety of loved ones.”
Khan is urging communities in London not to allow international events to cause division locally.
“I pray for a swift end to the fighting and urge our communities to do as they always do, and not allow events overseas to divide us here in London.”
Meanwhile, tensions have also grown between the UK and the United States.
US President Donald Trump criticised Starmer this week over the use of UK airbases. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Trump said the prime minister “took far too long” to allow US forces to use British bases.
In an interview with The Sun, he said Starmer “has not been helpful”, later telling reporters: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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