Bloomberg UK Politics Emergency Podcast: Britain's Iran Dilemma
Jun 23, 2025
Ellen Milligan, a UK foreign policy reporter at Bloomberg, dives into Britain’s complex stance on Iran amidst escalating tensions. She discusses the UK's diplomatic balancing act in response to recent US air strikes and explores public opinion regarding military support. The podcast also examines historical echoes of the Iraq War, analyzing how past conflicts shape current policies. Additionally, Milligan weighs Iran's potential responses, from retaliation to capitulation, highlighting the risks for regional stability and NATO’s evolving challenges.
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US Strikes Could Reshape Middle East
- The US air strikes on Iran mark a fundamental potential shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
- Iran must now decide between retaliation and potential regime collapse due to a destroyed nuclear program.
Iran Threat Perception Differs from Iraq
- Unlike Iraq, the US didn't need to persuade others about the threat from Iran.
- The nuclear threat from Iran has been widely recognized internationally for years, making this situation very different from Iraq in 2003.
UK's Careful Diplomatic Balancing Act
- The UK government was not involved in the US strike and received very short notice.
- The UK carefully balances non-involvement with support for the outcome, reflecting complex diplomacy and legal concerns.