In linking Iran to Russia, Healey could be laying ground for hard choices ahead

<p>Defence secretary connects Middle East conflict to plight of Ukraine, sympathy for which remains relatively high</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/13/iran-war-news-live-updates-us-israel-middle-east-crisis-latest#maincontent">Middle East crisis: live updates</a></p></li></ul><p>After a week or so of wearing media coverage about the deterioration of the Anglo-American relationship and the belated decision to deploy Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus, it was time to move the conversation on.</p><p>On a visit to the UK’s permanent military headquarters in Northwood, north-west London, the defence secretary, John Healey, asked two senior British military officers if there was “any sign of a link between Russia and Iran” in the sprawling conflict that has suddenly engulfed the Middle East.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/12/linking-iran-russia-john-healey-uk-role-in-us-israel-war">Continue reading...</a>