Keir Starmer has said the UK will not join Israeli and US offensive attacks on Iran, stating that the UK does not believe in “regime change from the sky”.
But the prime minister defended the use of British bases for defensive actions, saying it was “the best way to protect British interests and lives.”
Starmer said the UK had “learned lessons from Iraq” which influenced its decision not to get involved in offensive strikes against Iran.
“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq and have learned those lessons. Any UK action must always have a legal basis and a viable, well-thought-out plan,” he said.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said it was “my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest” despite criticism from US President Donald Trump, who had said he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for preventing him from using British bases to carry out attacks on Iran.
Starmer said the UK was responding by deploying British aircraft and allowing the use of bases for defensive purposes due to Iran’s retaliation by launching attacks on allies across the region.
“It is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests and our allies, and cannot be ignored,” he said.
“The basis for our decision is the collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and the protection of British lives. It is in accordance with international law.”
He said the RAF had intercepted an Iranian drone attack heading for a coalition base in Iraq, where UK forces were stationed. A drone was also fired at the British base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, which Starmer said was fired before Sunday night’s statement on the use of British bases by the United States.
Defense Secretary John Healey said the damage was minimal but the UK was moving families living at RAF Akrotiri to alternative temporary accommodation in Cyprus. The bases are not used to launch American attacks.
Starmer has not expressed explicit opposition to Saturday’s initial wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, and other senior Iranian leaders. But the United Kingdom did not allow American forces to use Diego Garcia or any British air bases due to questions about the legality of the attacks.
Iran has since launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against a variety of targets in the Gulf and Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Oman.
“We believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated agreement in which Iran agrees to renounce any aspiration to develop a nuclear weapon and ceases its destabilizing activity throughout the region, which has been the long-standing position of successive British governments,” Starmer said.
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial attacks, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest – that is what I have done and I stand by it.”
But he said the UK could not stand by while British citizens in the Gulf, as well as British bases, were put at risk. He said there were an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region, including those in transit.
“Iran has attacked airports and hotels where British citizens are staying. It is deeply worrying for the entire house and the entire country,” he said.
“I have been speaking to our Gulf partners over the weekend, they are outraged by Iran’s actions, particularly as they were not involved in any attacks, and have asked us to do more to defend them. Furthermore, it is my duty, the highest duty of my office, to protect British lives.”
Starmer said it was not possible for British Typhoons and F-35s to intercept all Iranian attacks and that was why he had given the United States permission to destroy the missiles at their storage depots or launch sites.
Starmer said that would “prevent Iran from firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.”
The Prime Minister said he wanted to ensure that British citizens stranded due to closed airspace could “ensure that they can return home as quickly and safely as possible”. He said the FCDO would send rapid deployment teams to the region, especially the United Arab Emirates, and said British citizens should register their presence.
