Britain condemns Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates

Britain has condemned Iranian drone and missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging Iran to return to negotiations as tensions in the Gulf rise.

The UK government published Starmer's statement on Tuesday. In it, he said the UK stands with the UAE and its Gulf partners, and that the escalation must stop.

The UAE said the attacks were launched by Iran and injured three Indian nationals. Its foreign ministry described the strikes as a dangerous escalation and said the country reserves the right to respond.

The condemnation comes as the wider region remains on alert over security risks tied to Iran and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain is now backing de-escalation while public officials in the UAE assess the impact of the attacks.

No new casualty or damage estimate was included in the UK statement, and it was not immediately clear whether Iran had issued a fresh response specific to the UAE strikes.