UK s Starmer says US can use British bases for defensive strikes against Iran missiles

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the UK has agreed to a request from the U.S. to use British military bases for defensive actions against Iranian missiles in storage or launch sites. In a video message on X, he stated, “The United States has asked for permission to use British bases for this specific and limited defensive purpose. We decided to accept this request to stop Iran from launching missiles throughout the region.” Starmer emphasized that the UK did not participate in the recent U.S.-Israel air strikes that resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, and he confirmed that Britain would not take part in any additional strikes. However, he noted that Iran responded by attacking various locations in the region, including airports and hotels frequented by British nationals. “Our choice not to engage in strikes on Iran was intentional, especially since we believe that a negotiated solution is the best path for the region and the world, where Iran commits to abandoning any nuclear weapons ambitions,” he explained. “Yet, Iran continues to target British interests and poses significant risks to British citizens.” Starmer mentioned that Britain’s allies in the Gulf had urged the UK to enhance its defense efforts and he felt it was his responsibility to ensure the safety of British lives. He indicated that British fighter jets were already involved in coordinated defensive missions and had intercepted Iranian attacks, but he stressed that the only effective way to eliminate the threat was to destroy missiles at their storage or launch sites. Thus, agreeing to the U.S. request was rooted in the “collective self-defense of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives,” in line with international law, he added.