> 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...

[1] - https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/uk-warplanes-do...

[2] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/is-uk-war-iran-n...

[3] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/trump-starmer-s...

[4] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/will-could-uk-go...

[5] - https://www.politico.eu/article/france-sends-anti-missile-an...

[6] - https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72965

[7] - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/24/iranian-milita...

[8] - https://jamestown.org/dirty-business-the-russian-iranian-str...

[9] - https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2040716892650803610

[10] - https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-deepens-gulf-securit...

[11] - https://english.nv.ua/nation/moscow-panics-as-ukraine-signs-...

[12] - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/iran-war-fa...

[13] - https://www.ft.com/content/adc3e954-5928-471b-b7f2-e4385bbca...

[14] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/10/8015528/

[15] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/15/7517248/

[16] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/

[17] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/06/7375231/

[18] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/24/7403733/

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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

[1] - https://english.nv.ua/amp/iran-threatens-ukraine-after-accus...

[2] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/20/7381481/

[3] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/07/7375314/

[4] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/11/03/7374835/

[5] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/08/7392485/

[6] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/17/7389742/

[7] - https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/05/7405318/

Look, if you continue down that road to GCC countries engaging Iran, then you have a multiparty nuclear armed conflict with combatants stretching from Europe to the Chinese border.

At that point it really does sound like ww3 started from the same causes as ww1 - nobody will win, nobody will know why they are fighting, and most of the fighting will be drones being slung over trenches.

The first time I saw a graph describing relationships between various factions in the Middle East was probably in the late 90s. I remember being amused by it. It turns out that if you are a region full of conflicts, the ally of your ally is often your enemy.

On the other hand, it should have been obvious. Real-world relationships are not transitive.

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. At least if you are not some kind of a rationalist who values logical consistency over practical implications.

> If you support Ukraine you cannot support Iran, and this is Ukraine's stance as well

The three countries that have been attacked, including civilian infrastructure, are Ukraine, Lebanon and Iran

Surely that has to be the default position. They all have a right to defend themselves and a valid claim for reparations.

Also, another question: Do you think that World War III or something close to a global conflict will start as you mentioned that the Ukrainian-Russo War and the Iran War "have merged into a single transnational war"?

The UK's involvement is minimal and we do not see ourselves part of this war / nor want to be part of it.

And FYI I live in the UK, so I'm better placed to comment than you listing a bunch of links.

This is was a really insightful read, thank you! Also, what are ya'll thoughts about Canada and their refusal to engage in the Middle East?