> Europe, thankfully, stayed out of this mess Cyprus/UK [0] faced attempted strikes; the UK is running defensive sorties for the UAE [1], Qatar [2], and Iraq [

> Europe, thankfully, stayed out of this mess Cyprus/UK [0] faced attempted strikes; the UK is running defensive sorties for the UAE [1], Qatar [2], and Iraq [3]; and British bases in Oman and the UAE were struck [4]. France has done similar actions as well [5]. The UK and France have mutual defense pacts across the Gulf as well which they need to maintain. Additionally, Ukraine has now begun providing defensive capabilities to the Gulf States, which Iran argues makes it an active combatant [6]. By this precedent the UK and France are also active combatants against Iran. The reality is, the Iran War and the Ukraine War are tied to the hip. If defending Ukraine against Russian drone strikes conducted by Iranian ground troops [7] and using Iranian technology [8] is critical to European security, then ending Iran's tactical support is critical as well. Ironically, this is probably great news for Ukraine. Russia's geoint support for Iran [9] has made it easier for my peers still on the Hill to make a case to double down and enhance American support for Ukraine, as well as pulling Gulf States who were previously neutral to supporting Ukraine as well [10]. This is also why Ukraine is calling out Russian disinfo ops about the war [11]. Iran has doubled down on similar information warfare [12] and hybrid [13] operations in the UK and Mainland Europe Frankly, we need to call a spade a spade - the Ukraine War and Iran War have merged into a single transnational war. If you support Ukraine you cannot support Iran, and this is Ukraine's stance as well [14][15][16][17][18]. [0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_drone_strikes_on_Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_drone_strikes_on_Akrotiri... [1] - https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uk-warplanes-down-drones-in-middle-east-conduct-defensive-sorties-for-uae/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uk-warplanes-do... [2] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/is-uk-war-iran-news-today-lhbgshz9s https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/is-uk-war-iran-n... [3] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/trump-starmer-special-relationship-us-news-7vv7w5kgc https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/trump-starmer-s... [4] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/will-could-uk-go-to-war-iran-britain-lhbgshz9s https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/will-could-uk-go... [5] - https://www.politico.eu/article/france-sends-anti-missile-anti-drone-systems-and-a-frigate-to-cyprus/ https://www.politico.eu/article/france-sends-anti-missile-an... [6] - https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72965 https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72965 [7] - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/24/iranian-military-advisers-killed-aiding-moscow-in-crimea-kyiv https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/24/iranian-milita... [8] - https://jamestown.org/dirty-business-the-russian-iranian-strategic-partnership-intensifies/ https://jamestown.org/dirty-business-the-russian-iranian-str... [9] - https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2040716892650803610 https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2040716892650803610 [10] - https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-deepens-gulf-security-ties-kyiv-exports-air-defense-expertise-zelenskyy-united-arab-emirates/ https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-deepens-gulf-securit... [11] - https://english.nv.ua/nation/moscow-panics-as-ukraine-signs-historic-defense-pacts-with-arab-states-50598353.html https://english.nv.ua/nation/moscow-panics-as-ukraine-signs-... [12] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/iran-war-fake-news-social-media-0zns35c9l https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/iran-war-fa... [13] - https://www.ft.com/content/adc3e954-5928-471b-b7f2-e4385bbca540?syn-25a6b1a6=1 https://www.ft.com/content/adc3e954-5928-471b-b7f2-e4385bbca... [14] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/10/8015528/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/10/8015528/ [15] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/15/7517248/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/15/7517248/ [16] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/ [17] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/06/7375231/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/06/7375231/ [18] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/24/7403733/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/24/7403733/ --- Edit: can't reply > There is no particular reason to assume that the side you take in one conflict should have an impact on your stance toward another conflict What you are describing is compartmentalization - something which you posited is false [0] If Qatar and UAE's dual use infrastructure is within the rights of Iran to strike despite both having dealings with both Iran and the US and if Ukraine can be treated as a combatant by Iran [1], then this precedent holds for all of Iran given how they have aided and abetted Russia in Ukraine. With the precedent Iran set against Qatar, compartmentalization no longer holds. And Ukraine's stance is that Iran is a terror state and an enemy of Ukraine [2], so frankly if you stand with Ukraine you also have to stand against Iran. > Surely that has to be the default position. They all have a right to defend themselves and a valid claim for reparations. Iran has been providing Russia ballistic missiles [3], drones [4], artillery [5], boots on the ground [6], ammunition [7], and other support against Ukraine. If Iran deserves reparations from the US, then Ukraine deserves reparations from Iran. Yet Iran has doubled down in opposing Ukraine [1]. [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47623496 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47623496 [1] - https://english.nv.ua/amp/iran-threatens-ukraine-after-accusing-kyiv-of-drone-support-for-israel-in-middle-east-war-50591756.html https://english.nv.ua/amp/iran-threatens-ukraine-after-accus... [2] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/ [3] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/07/7375314/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/07/7375314/ [4] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/03/7374835/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/03/7374835/ [5] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/08/7392485/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/08/7392485/ [6] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/17/7389742/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/17/7389742/ [7] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/05/7405318/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/05/7405318/