1 hour ago
Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 18:37 IST
Starmer confirmed the UK will allow US use of British bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites, stressing lessons from Iraq and no UK involvement in offensive action.
UK PM Keir Starmer (File photo)
After Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK has agreed to the US’s request to use British military bases for “defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites.
BBC quoted the PM saying the UK had learned lessons from the “mistakes of Iraq", and was not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and “will not join offensive action now".
This comes after US Donald Trump said that he was “very disappointed" with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial refusal to allow Washington to use British military bases for defensive strikes against Iran.
Also Read: Trump Says Starmer’s Initial Refusal To Let US Use British Bases For Iran Action ‘Disappointing’
In an exclusive interview, Trump described Starmer’s initial hesitation over the use of the Indian Ocean Chagos Islands base as unprecedented. “It took far too much time. Far too much time," he said, adding that the delay was unlike anything that had “happened between our countries before".
In a video statement released earlier on Sunday, BBC quoted Keir saying that the basis of the decision to accept the US request was the “collective self-defence" of allies and protecting British lives, accusing Iran of pursuing a “scorched-earth strategy".
The PM further said the US would use UK bases for the “specific and limited defensive purpose" of destroying Iran’s missiles “at source".
On Sunday, he said British aircraft had successfully intercepted Iranian strikes and added, “Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it’s my duty to protect British lives."
According to BBC, at least 200,000 British citizens are in the region – including residents, those on holidays and passengers in transit, Keir said – and the government “will continue to do all we can to support" them.
Location :
London, United Kingdom (UK)
First Published:
March 02, 2026, 18:31 IST
News world After Trump's 'Disappointment', PM Starmer Says UK Will Allow US To Use Its Bases To Strike Iran
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