Keir Starmer statement as US allowed to use UK bases after ‘near miss’ | World | News

Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement on Sunday evening that “it remains the case” that the UK is not involved in offensive operations against Iran. The Prime Minister nevertheless confirmed that British aircraft had “successfully thwarted Iranian attacks” and authorized the US to use British bases for defensive purposes.

In his video speech, the Prime Minister declared that Britain’s Gulf allies “want us to do more to defend them” and accused Iran of endangering British lives across the region.

The statement came as US and Israeli military operations against Iran entered their second day on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of Britons are believed to be in the Middle East; Thousands of people were stranded after attacks on Dubai, Oman and Qatar that resulted in the closure of their airspace.

Britain is understood to have previously rejected American requests to use UK bases for operations against the country. But in a statement on Sunday night, the Prime Minister announced that he had approved the request “to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, killing innocent civilians, risking British lives and striking countries that are not involved.”

He added that the US would use the bases for “specific and limited defensive purposes” to strike missile launch sites or storage facilities in Iran. Iran has vowed to respond with “devastating blows” and has launched missiles at US military facilities as well as several neighboring countries.

The Prime Minister’s statements came immediately after the joint declaration issued with France and Germany. The statement claims that countries may launch attacks on Iranian territory for the first time.

“We will take steps to defend our own interests and the interests of our allies in the region by potentially enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s ability to fire missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at their source,” the statement said. “We agreed to work together with the United States and its allies in the region on this issue.”

On Sunday evening, Starmer said: “Yesterday I spoke to you about the situation in the Gulf and explained that the UK had no involvement in attacks on Iran. “That remains the case.

“For the last two days, Iran has carried out continuous attacks across the region against countries that did not attack it. It hit airports and hotels where British citizens were staying. This is clearly a dangerous situation.

“We have at least 200,000 British citizens in the area – residents, families on holiday and those in transit. I would ask all people in the area to please register their presence and follow the Foreign Office travel advice.

“I know this is a very worrying time and we will continue to do all we can to support you.

“Our Armed Forces throughout the region are also at risk due to Iran’s actions,” he said in a video statement published on X.

“Yesterday, Iran struck a military base in Bahrain and narrowly missed British personnel. The death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from carrying out these attacks.

“Their approach is becoming increasingly reckless and dangerous to civilians. Our decision not to involve the UK in attacks on Iran was deliberate; in particular, we believe that the best way forward for the region and the world is a negotiated solution in which Iran agrees to renounce any ambition to develop nuclear weapons.”

“But Iran still impinges on British interests and puts the British people, along with our allies in the region, at great risk. That’s the situation we face today.”