LONDON: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has publicly distanced himself from comments made by his father praising Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his death in a joint US-Israeli strike.

Khamenei was killed at the weekend after the collapse of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, triggering missile and drone exchanges across the region.

Mr Sarwar said he “firmly disagreed” with remarks by his father, Mohammad Sarwar, who described Khamenei’s death as a “martyrdom” in posts on social media. The elder Sarwar said the global Muslim community had lost “a strong voice of resistance” and offered prayers for the Iranian leader, adding that Muslims “share equally in the sorrow of the Iranian nation”. He also shared footage of mourners gathered in Enghelab Square.

Speaking to reporters in Glasgow, Anas Sarwar said his views were different from those of his father.

“I’m a 42-year-old man — ask me my view, not what the old man’s view is,” he said. “I’m really clear that the Iranian regime is a brutal regime — brutal with its own people. It’s a threat to its neighbours, it’s a threat to us in the UK.”

He called for de-escalation and said the people of Iran should determine their own future. He added that he had not spoken to his father since the tribute was posted.

The crisis has drawn in Britain after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said US forces would be permitted to operate from British bases in a limited capacity targeting missile sites in Iran.

Anas Sarwar, who has previously called for the prime minister’s resignation, said the UK had a duty to protect its allies, infrastructure and citizens but stressed that Britain should support defensive, not offensive, military action.

Mohammad Sarwar was Britain’s first Muslim MP, and served in Westminster from 1997 until 2010, when he was succeeded by his son. After leaving British politics, he served two terms as the governor of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026