British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the United States to utilize United Kingdom military bases for defensive strikes targeting Iranian missile facilities, a decision announced Sunday evening. The move comes after a joint U.S.-Israeli strike within Iran on Saturday resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a subsequent retaliatory barrage of missile and drone attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
Starmer, in a video statement posted on X, emphasized the limited and defensive nature of the agreement. “The US has requested permission to employ British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region,” he stated. He further clarified that the UK did not participate in the initial strikes against Iran and will not join any further offensive actions.
The Prime Minister’s decision follows a period of escalating tensions. According to a statement released by 10 Downing Street, Iran’s recent attacks have directly threatened British interests and citizens. “Over the last two days, Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region at countries who did not attack them,” Starmer said. He highlighted that Iranian strikes have targeted airports and hotels frequented by British nationals, and a military base in Bahrain was narrowly missed by an Iranian attack, potentially endangering British personnel.
Starmer justified the decision as an act of collective self-defense, asserting its legality under international law. He cited the presence of approximately 200,000 British citizens in the Gulf region, whose safety is paramount. “Here’s the British government protecting British interests and British lives,” he added. The authorization allows the U.S. To use facilities at RAF Fairford in the UK and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands for the approved defensive operations, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
While acknowledging the risks, Starmer reiterated the UK’s long-term objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. “The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots or the launchers that are used to fire [them],” he said. He also noted that British fighter jets are already engaged in regional defensive operations, intercepting Iranian strikes.
The decision to grant access to UK bases represents a shift from previous policy, as Britain had previously refused similar requests from the U.S. Regarding potential strikes against Iran. The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that the UK played no role in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes, maintaining a position that a negotiated settlement remains the preferred path forward. However, Starmer underscored that Iran’s actions necessitate a response to protect British citizens and allies.
As of Monday, the U.S. Has not publicly confirmed the deployment of forces or the initiation of strikes from British bases. The Iranian government has yet to issue a formal response to Starmer’s announcement, but state media has condemned the move as an escalation of tensions.
