World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
UK defence secretary calls Iran’s accusation against its forces ‘shameless’
UK Defence Secretary Streeting criticised Iran after it labelled Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organisations.
Iran also designated the UK’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, a “hostile group” on 1 November.
Iran said the measures responded to British actions against Iran, including placing its Revolutionary Guard under a UK law on state threats.
Streeting called Iran’s accusation ‘shameless’, citing what he described as Iran’s support for activities that undermine regional stability.
He said Britain would keep diplomatic channels with Iran open and work to reduce tensions.
In Berlin, Streeting and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also called for stronger defence cooperation, as Streeting warned of a growing threat from Russia.
He said Ukraine must agree to any deal to end the war, and that decisions about Ukraine cannot be made without it.
UK Defence Secretary Streeting called Iran’s accusations against Britain’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force “utterly shameless.”
Iran had designated the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations and MI6 as an enemy group.
Streeting said Iran’s accusations did not deserve a response and accused Tehran of supporting terrorist activity that undermines regional stability.
He said Britain would keep diplomatic channels with Iran open and work to reduce tensions.
Streeting made the remarks at a joint news conference with Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin.
- Who
- UK Defence Secretary Streeting and Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
- What
- Streeting called Iran’s accusations against the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force “utterly shameless.” Iran had designated the forces as terrorist organisations and MI6 as an enemy group.
- When
- Iran announced its designations on 1 November 2026. The date of Streeting’s remarks is not stated.
- Where
- Streeting spoke at a joint news conference in Berlin.
- Why
- Iran said its designations were a response to what it called hostile British actions against Iran. Streeting objected to Iran’s accusations and its support for activities he said fuel regional instability.
Streeting and the UK
Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Iran’s designations
Streeting and the UK
Streeting said Iran’s accusations against the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force did not deserve a response and called them utterly shameless.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Iran designated the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations and MI6 as an enemy group.
Reason for the designations
Streeting and the UK
Streeting accused Iran of supporting terrorist activity and undermining regional stability.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Iran said the measures responded to hostile British actions, including placing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the 2026 State Threats Act.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that it would designate MI6 an enemy group and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organisations.
Streeting criticised the designations at a joint news conference with Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin.
- Iran’s announcement
- 1 November 2026
- Forces designated as terrorist organisations
- Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
- Service designated as an enemy group
- MI6
- Joint news conference location
- Berlin
- German defence minister
- Boris Pistorius
What people are saying
Iran making such an accusation while fuelling regional instability to such an extent is utterly shameless.
Iran's accusations against the Royal Navy and Air Force do not deserve a response.
We must work to reduce tensions and for diplomacy.
From 1 November 2026, the British foreign intelligence service MI6 will be considered an enemy group, and the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will be designated terrorist organisations.