Cooper made the remarks during a G7 meeting in France, framing Iran’s retaliatory actions as a threat to global trade and stability. Her comments came amid heightened tensions following US and Israeli aggression on Iran.
Meanwhile, online public voices worldwide said Iran is acting in self-defense after decades of sanctions and Western military pressure.
She also pointed to Iran’s ties with Russia, including drone cooperation, as part of broader security concerns. The UK position aligns with Washington while calling for restraint and diplomacy.
The global internet users said the UK lacks credibility to accuse others of economic coercion. Critics cited Britain’s record of sanctions, military interventions, and control over global energy routes.
Voices across regions said decades of Western sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy and harmed ordinary citizens. They described sanctions as economic warfare targeting livelihoods of regular people rather than governments.
Analysts pointed to Britain’s historical role in controlling oil resources, including its dominance through the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
They said this legacy reflects a pattern of leveraging energy for political influence.
Critics also highlighted UK involvement in wars linked to oil interests, including Iraq and Libya. They said such actions contradict London’s current narrative on protecting global economic stability.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said recent attacks by the US and Israel constitute illegal aggression. They said Tehran’s actions are defensive and aimed at safeguarding sovereignty.
Russia and China condemned the strikes and called for de-escalation.
However, European leaders urged restraint while avoiding direct criticism of Western military aggressions.
Public reactions on social media echoed Iran’s positions, slamming the UK for aligning with aggressive policies while claiming to be avoiding direct confrontation with Iran. Many users said Western countries are experiencing limited disruption compared to decades of hardship imposed on Iranians.
They characterize the US-Israeli campaign as a “war of choice and aggression” initiated after years of “cruel sanctions” aimed at strangling the lives of ordinary Iranians.
Commentators stressed a stark disparity between Western economic concerns and Iran’s prolonged suffering under sanctions. They said current tensions cannot be separated from years of sustained economic pressure on Iran.
Critics said Britain’s alignment with US policy reinforces perceptions of complicity in destabilizing actions. They argued this stance undermines claims of neutrality and commitment to international law.
The backlash reflects a broader view that Iran is resisting external pressure rather than threatening global order. It also underscores growing scrutiny of the UK’s historical and current role in global conflicts.