UK’s latest ‘defensive’ action: 13 British arms dealers meet with Gulf ambassadors

In the latest “defensive” news from the UK’s role in the Anglo-American-Zionist illegal war on Iran, the UK held a meeting between 13 defence companies and Gulf diplomats to discuss providing “defensive” equipment against Iranian attacks. Defence Minister Luke Pollard hosted the session.

The UK is stepping up for our partners in the Gulf.

Defence Minister @LukePollard convened 13 UK defence companies alongside Gulf ambassadors and defence attachés to explore urgent defensive support against Iranian drone and missile attacks.

UK industry is ready to deliver. pic.twitter.com/uDJDClZTp4

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 18, 2026

People were quick to point out the greed of British arms companies.

Imagine seeing the illegal war in Iran as an opportunity to make money https://t.co/XeOsuGHWHO

— Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) March 18, 2026

The 13 defence companies present were ADS, MARSS, MSI, MBDA, Frankenberg, Leonardo UK, Thales, QinetiQ, OSL Ltd, BAE Systems, Ocean Infinity, Cambridge Aerospace, and Uforce, and they met Diplomats from seven Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Jordan.

The UK is stepping up to warmonger in the Gulf. https://t.co/Dq0yFc9LNw

— GlumBird (@GlumBird) March 18, 2026

New opportunities galore for arms dealers and co

UK military planners have also been dispatched to US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida to help plot a route to unblock the key shipping lane, according to The Times — more “defensive” acts by the UK.

British military helping US plan Strait of Hormuz reopening after Trump bemoaned Starmer’s response to fuel crisis https://t.co/HuEJBO5cbP

— LBC (@LBC) March 19, 2026

Labour MP Al Carns is beating the war drums particularly loudly. Earlier this week in Parliament, the Armed Forces minister said the government was not ruling out anything when asked if the UK saw “de-escalation is key.”

Defence Minister Al Carns has said the government ‘is not going to rule anything out’

Read more: https://t.co/t50o6L6V9b pic.twitter.com/rnShip7A9i

— The i Paper (@theipaper) March 16, 2026

He told Parliament:

We will continue to work in a comprehensive and calm manner with our allies and partners to ensure that we can come up with a solution to the strait of Hormuz, and we will not rule anything out, because we cannot guarantee where this war is going to go.

Carns also claimed in parliament that Iran’s support to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis “has been killing British forces for 20 years”. Declassified was quick to reprimand the statement on the lack of evidence.

Defence minister Al Carns claims in parliament that Iran’s support to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis “has been killing British forces for 20 years”.

Where is the evidence for this?#DCUKparliament pic.twitter.com/IWwgpzomEQ

— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) March 17, 2026

On Thursday, he told the Sun that any mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would require a massive multinational coalition, warning that operating without allies would be far worse. He said: “We’re not anywhere near that at the moment, but I would say one thing: that there’s one thing worse than working with allies, and that’s working without them.”

He said:

In 1987 when this last happened, it took 30 warships to escort in the Strait of Hormuz. That gives you just an example of the resources required.

UK is relying on flimsy ‘defensive’ grounds

UK PM and other cabinet ministers have repeatedly used flimsy grounds of just being involved in “defensive actions against Iran.

Allowing the US to use British bases and commit war crimes in not “defensive actions”. pic.twitter.com/Y2Zfq2JMFj

— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) March 18, 2026

This use of UK bases for American bombers has been heavily criticised. Journalist and former UK diplomat Craig Murray said:

No other European state is prepared to let US bombing runs on Iran overfly their airspace. Starmer lets them actually load their bombs and take off from UK airfields. He calls it “defensive” bombing.

No other European state is prepared to let US bombing runs on Iran overfly their airspace.

Starmer lets them actually load their bombs and take off from UK airfields.

He calls it “defensive” bombing. https://t.co/LmSZwSy340

— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) March 19, 2026

Electronic Intifada journalist Ali Abunimah argued that assisting an aggressor by protecting them from those attempting to halt their attack does not constitute a defensive act, but rather makes one an active accomplice in the original crime. He was responding to the Foreign Office’s statement that the UK is continuing defensive military support for partners against Iranian strikes, alongside diplomatic activity in the UK national interest.

Helping a mass killer carry out aggression by shielding them from those who are trying to stop the attack is not “defensive.” It’s being an active accomplice in the original crime. https://t.co/sgvVErGFnm

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) March 18, 2026

UK bases, ships and aircraft are already central to the US-Israeli war effort. Starmer has tried vainly to frame British involvement as purely ‘defensive.’

Featured image via Campaign Against Arms Trade