Iran has strongly condemned Boris Johnson’s decision to remove the Cold War-era limit on the UK’s nuclear stockpile.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, accused the prime minister of “utter hypocrisy” over the move, which has also been criticised by Russia.
“Unlike the UK and allies, Iran believes nukes and all WMDs are barbaric and must be eradicated,” Mr Zarif said on Wednesday.
Although in favour of Trident, Labour has questioned why the prime minister wants to build more nuclear weapons when UK leaders have long sought to reduce their number.
The SNP also hit out at the plans, with Ian Blackford, the party’s Westminster leader, saying the UK does not have the moral authority to impose “weapons of mass destruction” on Scotland.
Elsewhere, Downing Street has refused to say whether Boris Johnson regrets using sexist language in the last, while insisting that he has a “strong track record” on support for women and girls.
The comment follows Mr Johnson’s call during PMQs on Wednesday for the UK to undergo a “cultural and social change in attitudes” in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.
