Keir Starmer’s Iran statement in full as Prime Minister address nation | World | News

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed Britain has allowed the US to use British bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose” to target missile sites and silos in Iran.

In a video statement published on social media on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister said Britain was not involved in the offensive attacks against Tehran.

Here is Sir Keir’s full statement:.

“Yesterday I spoke to you about the situation in the Gulf and explained that Britain had no hand in the attacks on Iran. This situation continues.

“For the last two days, Iran has carried out continuous attacks against countries that did not attack them throughout the region.

“They 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 region – residents, families on holiday and those in transit.

“I ask all our people in the region to please register their presence and comply with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 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.

“Yesterday Iran struck a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing 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 that the UK will not be involved 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.

“Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it is my duty to protect British lives.

“We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations that have successfully thwarted Iranian attacks.

“But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at their source, their depots or the launchers used to fire the missiles.

“The US requested permission to use British bases for this specific and limited defense purpose.

“We have decided to accept this request to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, killing innocent civilians, risking British lives and striking countries that are not involved.

“The basis for our decision is the collective self-defense of long-time friends and allies and the protection of British lives.

“This complies with international law and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.

“We do not participate in these attacks, but we will continue our defensive actions in the region.

“We will also bring together experts from Ukraine with our own anti-drone expertise to help our Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones that attack them.

“I want to be very clear: We all remember Iraq’s mistakes, and we have learned those lessons.

“We did not take part in the first attacks against Iran. We will not take part in the attacks now either.

“But Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy. Therefore, we support the collective self-defense of our allies and our people in the region. Because this is our duty to the British people.

“This is the best way to eliminate the immediate threat and prevent the situation from getting worse.

“This is the British government. It protects British interests and British lives.”