Britain rejects claims of Iran attack on Europe

British minister Steve Reed told the BBC he rejected claims that Iran was planning missile attacks on Europe or had the capability to hit cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.

He was reacting to statements by the Israeli military which claimed the opposite. According to Reed, there are no intelligence assessments to confirm these fears.

In a separate interview with Sky News, this minister responsible for housing and regional development said that US President Trump was speaking for himself when he threatened to "destroy" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Asked how Britain would define its position on Trump's deadline, Reed replied: "The US president is perfectly capable of speaking for himself and defending what he says."

"We will not be drawn into war, but we will protect our own interests in the region. We will work with our allies to de-escalate the situation," Reed added.

(reuters, mja)