The SNP leader released a statement on Monday night expressing his “deep concern” over the escalation of the conflict in recent days.
It was also announced that the Scottish Government had established a cross-government group to consider the impact of the violence on Scotland. The group will work with the Foreign Office to support Scottish citizens living, travelling or working in the region, and take steps to support affect people here in the country.
In his statement, Swinney also warned that Keir Starmer’s decision to let the US use UK bases in its operations is making the situation more dangerous.
Since the initial hits on Saturday, Iran has hit targets across the Middle East, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. There are fears that Tehran has the ability to keep up its retaliatory actions for a week.
The First Minister said: “At what is a profoundly dangerous and uncertain moment for the region and the wider world, it is essential that all nations abide by the international rules-based system. The events of the last few days do not suggest to me that the United States and Israel have done this.
“This initial action gives rise to an inevitable escalation of the conflict, and the decision of the UK Prime Minister to allow UK military bases to be used by the United States in this operation creates further risks and dangers. It is a matter of real concern that the UK has now been drawn into this conflict and the Prime Minister needs to set out clearly how the risks we now face can be reduced.
“It is unclear what the exit strategy is for this military action or that there has been appropriate planning to ensure stability in the region.”
Legal experts have warned that the Israeli and US strikes on Iran were against international law. The UN Charter does not allow states to use force under Article 2(4) unless if authorised by the UN Security Council or in self defence.
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Swinney also warned about the number of Scottish nationals feeling the consequences of the conflict.
Around 300,000 Britons are believed to be in countries targeted by Iran, with 102,000 registering their presence with the Foreign Office as officials worked on contingency plans including a possible mass evacuation.
“The dangerous consequences of these strikes are already being felt by civilians, including many Scottish nationals, and underline the need to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution,” he said.
“While that crucial work takes place, we will continue to engage with the UK Government on the support that can be provided to those in the region.”
Swinney went on: “There can be no doubt that the Iranian government is a brutal, repressive and undemocratic regime which must never have access to nuclear weapons. But the main victims of that regime have been the people of Iran, who are suffering terribly.”
“The Iranian people must have democratic rights and should have the opportunity to decide their own future. But history shows us that this is rarely if ever achieved by external intervention – indeed this type of military intervention can often be wholly counterproductive.”
Swinney said there must be a diplomatic ending to the violence, and called on the international community to come together to end hostilities.
“Peace must prevail,” he said.
Meanwhile on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his decision not to allow UK bases to be used by the US in the initial strikes against Iran in the face of criticism from Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister granted permission on Sunday for the US to use British bases to target missile launchers and stores to help protect countries targeted by Tehran.
But the US president said he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for initially refusing to allow the use of the UK-US Diego Garcia base to target Iran.
In a Commons statement Sir Keir said: “President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest.”
In a statement to MPs, Starmer said his “decision was deliberate” and “I stand by it”.
He said that “we all remember the mistakes of Iraq” adding “any UK actions must always have a lawful basis and a viable thought-through plan”.
In an apparent criticism of the US approach he said: “This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.”
Hours after Starmer’s announcement on Sunday about allowing the US use of bases, a drone hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Starmer said the drone was launched before his announcement and was not in retaliation to it.
Defence Secretary John Healey said there were no casualties and the damage to the base was minimal.
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The families of service personnel have been moved away from the base as a precaution.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Cypriot government said two further unmanned drones heading towards the base had been intercepted.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the Government’s reluctance to allow US forces to use UK bases was because Labour wanted to avoid alienating voters “whose political loyalties are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest”.
“It isn’t ‘international law’ or principle,” she said. “It’s pure, partisan, political calculations from a party that has surrendered its right to govern our country.”
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