UK to allow US to use bases for strikes against Iran, Starmer says

The United Kingdom has granted the United States permission to use British military bases for strikes against Iranian missile sites, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on March 1.

In a statement, Starmer said British aircraft had “successfully intercepted Iranian strikes” as part of ongoing defensive operations, foreign media reports.

“Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it’s my duty to protect British lives. We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes, but the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles,” Starmer said.

He added, “The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved.”

“The basis of our decision is the collective self defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives – that is in accordance with international law and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice,” he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that military operations will continue until all U.S. objectives are achieved, potentially for as long as four weeks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev