Iranian distrust of the British runs deep
B ritain has not bombed Iran, nor called for regime change in Tehran, nor mobilised against the mullahs. Britain's stance on preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons has not changed. And yet there is deep anxiety in Whitehall and the intelligence services that the conflict between Iran and Israel will become our fight, and Iranian anger and hostility will now turn on Britain. It already has.
That is because suspicion of the UK, as the 'hidden hand' behind every plot and confrontation, is deeply embedded in Iran's politics, language, rhetoric and self-image. Distrust and dislike of Britain is part of Iran's cultural DNA.
From the Iranian point of view, Britain has been meddling in Iran ever since the Great Game of the early 19th century, when the rival empires of Britain and Russia tussled for control of Central Asia using bribery, proxy forces, political manipulation, competing spheres of influence and, from time to time, direct military intervention.
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