The remark, Aug. 15 -- Britain's government formally raised objections with Israel's government on Saturday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the United Kingdom as "the Islamic Republic of Britain" during a recorded podcast interview, calling the characterization "completely unacceptable" in one of the sharpest diplomatic complaints London has lodged against Jerusalem in recent memory.

"Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain, so we're making sure there won't be another one in Iran."

A UK government spokesman confirmed London had formally raised the matter with Israeli officials. "These comments are completely unacceptable and we have raised them with the ...