Royal Navy: Portsmouth MP says Iran conflict "not our war" - but proud of HMS Dragon's imminent deployment

That is the message from Portsmouth MP Amanda Martin, who is urging people to rally around the Royal Navy as HMS Dragon was named for a deployment to the Mediterranean amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, regardless of where we stand as individuals.

The Type 45 destroyer’s deployment was announced on Tuesday, March 3, but the warship has not yet set sail. At the time of publication, HMS Dragon is sat in the middle of Portsmouth Harbour, at the Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility.

On one side of the conflict stands Israel and the USA, who have co-ordinated joint attacks on Iran - one of which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, Iran has launched attacks on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and attempted a drone strike on military bases in Cyprus.

Now, while the UK government aims to fly British nationals out of the Middle East, HMS Dragon is expected to offer further support off the Cyprian coastline.

Speaking about the conflict, Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin stood by the Labour Party’s stance of not getting involved in the offensive against Iran.

She said: “This is not our war. We know all too well in this city what war looks like, and it’s right that we take a steady approach.

“Whether you’re a fan of the Prime Minister or not, it takes a lot to stand up to President Trump; the bottom line is that it’s not the war for us to go into.

“That being said, we need to be defensive and protect our civilians on the ground.”

While we don’t know exactly when HMS Dragon will set sail, the Portsmouth North MP said she feels “apprehensive but proud” of those serving on board the destroyer.

She added: “It’s natural to feel apprehensive about loved ones heading towards conflict - but the people going want to do this, they signed up to protect our country.

“We should be so proud of them and the sacrifices made by our armed forces.”