Starmer gives Trump permission to use RAF bases for defensive action against Iran
Keir Starmer has dramatically changed his mind on allowing the Americans to use RAF bases in Cyprus to combat the growing threat from Iran.
In a statement late on Sunday evening, the prime minister insisted he had given permission for the “limited specific defense purpose” of defending Britain and US allies in the Middle East as Iran continued its attacks.
This comes after Defense Secretary John Healey revealed that two Iranian missiles were directed towards Cyprus, where the UK has bases.
But this came after harsh criticism from the Conservative Party and Reform for the UK’s refusal to allow the US to use RAF bases and for standing aside on direct action against the conflict.
However, this will now increase concerns that Britain is being dragged into a conflict that could also be played out permanently on British streets. Yesterday Sir Keir revealed Iran had planned 20 atrocities in the UK in the last year alone.
In his video message to the nation, Sir Keir said: “The US has requested permission to use British bases for this specific and limited defense purpose.
“We have decided to accept this request to prevent Iran from launching missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, risking British lives and striking countries not involved.”
This follows concerns about the arrival of missiles in Cyprus and attacks on regional allies in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar.
The Prime Minister explained: “Over the last two days, Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region against countries that did not attack them.
“They have hit airports and hotels where British nationals are staying. This is clearly a dangerous situation, we have at least 200,000 British nationals in the area – residents, families on holiday and those in transit.”
“Our Armed Forces across the region are also at risk from Iran’s actions. Yesterday Iran attacked a military base in Bahrain and narrowly missed British personnel.”
Iran’s indiscriminate retaliation came despite the deaths of many of the country’s hardline religious leaders, including Ayatollah Khamenei.
Sir Keir continued: “The death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from carrying out these attacks. Their approach is becoming more reckless and more dangerous to civilians.”
“Our decision not to involve the UK in attacks on Iran was deliberate, as 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.
“This is 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, either in their depots or the launchers used to fire the missiles.”
Sir Keir also joined French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a joint statement calling on Iran to stop its attacks.
They said they were “horrified by Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks on regional countries.”
They added: “Iran’s reckless attacks have targeted our close allies and threaten our service personnel and civilians in the region.”
Earlier, Conservative Party shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel questioned why the prime minister was not more “proactive” ahead of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
He said: “A lot of this was about why Keir Starmer wasn’t working with our American allies to be more proactive?
“Given that so much intelligence is shared between the two countries, the Americans could easily and rightfully share details of their plans.
“Why were some of our bases not used? So, was the British Government asked about the use of our military bases in defensive attacks?”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Iran is firing ballistic missiles at Cyprus, home to an RAF base, but the Defense Secretary says they are ‘not targeting the island’.
“Really? John Healey thinks Iran accidentally fired ballistic missiles in that direction? This Labor government is completely rudderless.”
Following his party’s victory in by-elections in Gorton and Denton last week, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he had seen “no evidence” that the UK had taken diplomacy and negotiations with Iran seriously before it was attacked.
Mr Polanski criticized Sir Keir for not being tougher in his opposition to the conflict and for being too close to Donald Trump.
He said: “It is an absolute disgrace that our Prime Minister made a statement condemning Iran for a retaliatory attack against Israel and America, which first initiated the bombing.”
