The British government has carefully refused to publicly reveal whether it supported the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, and even whether it deems the attack to be lawful.
On Monday morning in an interview with BBC Radio 4, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly declined to say whether he believed the US strikes were legal.
Now diplomatic sources with knowledge of the matter have told Middle East Eye the UK's private stance is that attacks on nuclear facilities are not illegal and should not be banned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"The UK has taken the view that attacks on nuclear facilities are not by themselves illegal," said one diplomat at the UN with knowledge of the matter who asked to remain anonymous.
"This has put it at odds with the approach of most UNSC member states, which oppose such attacks outright."
