Originally appeared at Sputniknews
Earlier on Sunday, about 50 members of the UK’s Special Air Service (SAS) were sent to Iraq to help with the potential evacuation of Britons following Friday’s US drone strike which killed Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s elite Quds Force.
A UK Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine will be “in position to strike Iran” if the current tensions between Tehran and Washington over the killing of an Iranian general result in a full-fledged armed conflict, The Sun reports .
The newspaper cited unnamed senior UK defence sources as saying that an Astute-class hunter-killer sub armed with Tomahawk cruise nuclear missiles “was sat silently” in range of Iran.
The sources added that even though there won’t be a first strike, “every precaution is being made, depending on how Iran reacts to the death of Soleimani”.
#OnThisDay 2011 the second Astute Class #submarine, HMS AMBUSH, was launched @BAES_Maritime in Barrow. The Astute Class are the largest and most powerful Attack Submarines ever operated by @RoyalNavy and combine cutting edge sensors with world leading weaponry. #unseen pic.twitter.com/qC24Qsup0L
— On This Day RN (@OnthisdayRN) January 7, 2019
“If things unravel quickly, the UK will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the US. The hunter-killers are the most advanced submarines in the Royal Navy. They are a deadly asset and there is one well within range of Iran,” the sources pointed out.
The remarks come after at least 50 UK Special Air Service (SAS) troops were dispatched to Iraq to help with potential evacuation of Britons in the aftermath of a US drone strike which killed General Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s elite Quds Force.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also ordered the deployment of UK warships to the Strait of Hormuz to “take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens” as Iran is pledging retaliation following the killing of Soleimani.
Rouhani Warns US Made ‘Grave Mistake by Killing Soleimani
During a visit to Soleimani’s family house on Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the US made a blunder by killing the leader of Iran’s Quds force.
When asked by one of Soleimani’s daughters who will avenge her father’s blood, Rouhani said that “everyone will take revenge” and that the daughter should not worry about it.
“The Americans did not realise what a grave mistake they have made. They will suffer the consequences of such criminal measure not only today, but also throughout the years to come.’ This crime committed by the US will go down in history as one of their unforgettable crimes against the Iranian nation,” Rouhani underscored.
35 US Targets ‘Within Iran’s Reach’, IRGC Commander Claims
IRGC Commander Gholamali Abuhamzeh, for his part, claimed that 35 American targets are already “within Iran’s reach”, in a statement that was followed by US President Donald Trump warning that any possible attack against US citizens or assets would be reciprocated with a counterattack against “52 Iranian sites.”
He referred to the sites which represent the 52 American hostages taken at the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. Although they were finally released, the developments led to escalation of US-Iranian tensions at the time and Washington slapping sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2020
In one of the latest tweets, Trump warned that “if Iran attacks an American base, or any American”, the US will send “some of its brand new beautiful [military] equipment their way…and without hesitation”.
US-Iran Tensions Escalate
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been worsening since January 3, when Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike on Baghdad International Airport that was authorised by Trump.
Iranian authorities were quick to vow “crushing vengeance” on Washington for killing the country’s top military commander who was described by Trump as the “number one terrorist anywhere in the world.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in turn, slammed Soleimani’s killing as an “extremely dangerous, foolish escalation” and an act of “international terrorism”.
Good thing, again, that Britain is brexiting.
UK hunter killer sub, may very well be hunted and killed in the Gulf. Raab the twit initially sided with the European response, deescalation. When Pompeo bit his cock-off he squeaked “yanki doodle dandy”. Borris is just back from his Caribbean Hols, so, really doesn’t much know anything about this storm in the Champagne-flute. Except good Champers shouldn’t be spilt, time to walk his poodle to the US Embassy.
May well but won’t. If the Murdering Mullahs tried what you hope, there won’t be many of them left.
As a Brit, i hope the present disfunctional political system doesn’t make the same mistake as the last disfunctional system, and get the UK into another war of america’s making. That made a war criminal of toady blaaar and now he is a nobody trying to get back into British politics. Fat chance!
He only evaded prison because he didn’t stop wriggling.
I do hope that Boris hasn’t misinterpreted the majority he has been given by the electorate. That was for Brexit and not more war in the ME. The British people will not allow another PM to play fast and loose with the truth.
If the Murdering Mullahs are stupid in their response, it will be over for them quite fast before the British people have much of a chance to saying anything. But good to hear there is yet again another sub in the area that can disappear Islamist Iran if need be.
‘Make way for winston Churchill reborn. Boris’ therefore Boris most likely will do what Winston would have done. So sadly – don’t get your hopes up…
Winston was nearly bankrupt and needed cash fast and funnily enough it was the Rothschild bank that came to the rescue. Winstons opinions changed soon after the cash injection. :)
Boris is a Zionist, but solvent I think.
He also talks at one time about Winston: “Churchill was a Jew”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELwmUVc7ReA&list=PLjASLIYhVcKuHbvSmxJnNogTKhcZtEMHM&index=4&t=2490s
Thank you for the video.
As an ex-Brit Aussie, I agree 100%. Why the fuck does the UK act like a snivelling dog when it comes to supporting US warmongering and international crimes?
There was a time when the sun never set on the British Empire. Now the UK is a sad pathetic joke of a nation, and its armed fgorces are no more than Imperial Auxilliaries at the beck and call of Washington.
it will be the last war that little island country ever starts
Well, how nice. Add that to the couple of nuke armed subs there from Israel and the dozens of nuke armed ships in the area from the US. If the Islamist Iranians step over the line, there won’t be many Islamist Iranians left and Iran may well glow in the dark.
Nuclear powered sub you Jew fuck!
Yes, yes, the UK will suck their nuts, what else is new?
YA YA CAN YOU PUDS SAY ALA AKBAR :)
Good Lord, what a pathetic display of subjugation and vassal-hood to US interests.
Here UK go again. I’d have thought they’ve had enough of “striking Iranian targets”.