British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday defended his decision to keep Britain out of the United States and Israel’s initial attacks on Iran following criticism from President Donald Trump.
Trump told Britain’s Daily Telegraph that he was “very disappointed” with Starmer’s initial refusal to allow Washington to use British military bases in the US-Israel war against Iran, which began on Saturday.
“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 the British national interest,” Starmer told parliament.
“That’s what I’ve done and I stand by it,” he added.
Use of military bases
After initially refusing to take part in the attacks, Starmer announced on Sunday that he had accepted a US request to use British military bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.
Look“There is a universal feeling that the UK should not get involved in Iran”
His Downing Street office said the prime minister made the decision after Iran fired missiles over the weekend that put British interests and people “at risk.”
“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq and have learned those lessons. Any action by the United Kingdom must always have a legal basis and a well-thought-out and workable plan,” he told lawmakers.
The prime minister also said that British military bases in Cyprus “are not being used by American bombers” during the US-Israel war with Iran.
Read moreBritish base in Cyprus hit by drone as fallout from war with Iran spreads beyond Middle East
The British Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus was attacked by an unmanned Iranian drone that hit the base’s landing strip.
Starmer said the attack was “not in response to any decision we have made”, adding that the British government believed the drone “was launched before our announcement”.
Iran’s approach is becoming “more reckless and more dangerous,” Starmer said.
“They are ruthlessly and deliberately working through a plan to attack not only military targets, but also economic targets in the region, without regard for civilian casualties. That is the situation we face today and to which we must respond.”
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
