The British Government profoundly regret the loss of life on the Iranian airliner and extend their deep sympathy to the bereaved.
This has been a tragedy for all concerned.
We have been in touch with the United States and they have kept us informed of their investigations.
We understand that, in the course of an engagement following an Iranian attack on US forces, warnings were given to an unidentified aircraft apparently closing with a US warship, but these warnings received no response. We fully accept the right of forces engaged in such hostilities to defend themselves.
This tragic accident underlines the urgent need for an early end to the Iran/Iraq conflict including an end to all attacks on shipping.